I  I  I  I  I  1 1  I  I  I  |d!l:H<H  If  I  II 


Ex  Libris 
C.  K.  OGDEN 


THE  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  SIR  HENRY 

1     HAVELOCK.     18mo, 50 

'•  Every  inch  a  soldier  and  every  inch  a  Christian." — Lord,  Harding^ 

"  The  character  find  deeds  of  General  Havelock  have  given  his  name  a 
charm  in  both  hemispheres.  A  great  military  leader  and  a  humble 
Christian  equally  stand  before  us  in  his  portraiture.  In  no  instance  of 
military  biography  of  the  class  of  Colonel  Gardner  and  Captain  Vickers, 
have  we  seen  such  a  long  life  of  humble  piety,  shining  with  a  steady 
lustre,  as  in  the  case  of  Havelock." 

T  IFE  OF  CAPTAIN  M.  M.  HAMMOND. 

JU      ]2mo, $1  00 

"His  natural  disposition  was  sanguine,  hopeful,  earnest,  and  into  the 
religious  life  he  entered  with  his  whole  heart.  As  the  event  proved,  he 
was  ripening  rapidly  for  heaven,  for  he  was  cut  of  in  the  morning  of  his 
life  at  Sebastopol,  while  storming  the  Redan,  in  his  31st  year. — Presby- 
terian. 

T  IFE  OF  CAPTAIN  W.  T.  BATE. 

J^     18mo,  A 50 

"  Captain  Bate  was  in  the  navy  what  Hedley  Vicars  was  in  the  army 

as  to  Christian  character He  exhibited  the  most  dauntless 

daring  in  danger,  and  fell  at  last  in  attacking  a  Chinese  fort,  when  lead- 
ing as  a  volunteer  a  forlorn  hope. 

"  In  his  character  were  combined  the  gentle  graces  of  the  Christian 
with  the  highest  attainment  of  the  naval  officer." 

THE  LIFE  OF  ARTHUR  VANDELEUR, 

1     MAJOR,  ROYAL  ARTILLERY.     12mo,        .         .        .     T5 


ROBERT  CARTER  AND  BROTHERS, 


500  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK. 


MEMORIALS  OF  CAPTATN  HEDLEY 

•LU.     VICARS.     18mo, 40 

"  Captain  Vicars  fell  in  a  night  attack  before  Sevastopol,  on  the  evening 
of  the  22d  of  March,  1856.  '  When  called  to  God's  service,  he  found  his 
mission-field  in  the  camp  and  in  the  hospital.  He  lived  during  months 
of  sickness  and  pestilence,  to  commend  the  religion  he  professed  to  all 
around  him — while  he  pursued  the  duties  of  his  profession  with  dis- 
tinguished ardor  and  constancy — maintaining  as  a  Christian  a  high  re- 
putation for  bravery  among  the  bravest  of  his  companions  in  arms,  and 
winning  on  his  first  battlefield  the  blood-stained  laurels,  so  soon  to  be  ex- 
changed for  the  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away.'  " 

ENGLISH   HEARTS  AND    HANDS; 

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"  The  book  is  full  of  incidents  that  warm  the  heart  of  the  reader,  and 
strongly  kindle  the  desire,  as  well  as  show  the  blessedness  of  doing  good. 
No  one  can  read  it  without  rising  from  the  perusal  with  more  of  the 
spirit  of  Him  who  came  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost,  if  he  had  any  of  that 
spirit  before.  Its  extensive  circulation  could  not  but  be  a  source  of  in- 
calculable good  to  our  churches  and  the  community  and  if  all  would  act 
in  its  spirit,  according  to  its  example,  it  would  bring  back  to  the  church 
and  the  world  that  blessed  season  of  which  it  is  written,  that  the  disciples 
went  every  where  preaching  the  word,'  and  the  number  of  believers  was 
'  greatly  multiplied.'  " — Ret.  Herald. 

HE  VICTORY  WON.    ismo,  ,  25 


T 
A 


LTGHT  FOR  THE  LINE ;  OR,  THE 

STORY  OF  THOMAS  WARD.    18mo,        ...     25 

"  An  affecting  narrative  of  a  railway  workman,  who  illustrated  the 
beauty  and  simplicity  of  a  Christian  faith  under  the  fatal  injury  which  he 
received  while  engaged  in  his  occupation." — Presbyterian. 

THE  HAVEN  AND  THE  PRIZE. 

JL      ]8mo, 25 

MIDNIGHT   CHIMES,     ismo, .      ...   25 


Robert  Carter  and  Brothers,  New  York. 


* 


'  ;.hen  -will  I 
ore  in  death  • 
r  Christ's  death  my  ;: 
com  the  ••  :;.;'ain  . 

. 


THE    LIFE 


ARTHUR  VANDELEUR, 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF 

'MEMORIALS    OP    CAPTAIN    HEDLEY    VICARS,"    "  KNGLISH    HEARTS 
AND  ENGLISH  HANDS." 


NEW    YORK: 

ROBERT    CARTER    &    BROTHERS, 

No.   .130  BROADWAY. 

1862. 


MEMORIALS 


OP  THE 
HOLT  LIVING  AND  DYING  OF  A  SOLDIER  OP  THE   CROSS  AND   OP  HIS   COUNTRY. 


WITH     TENDER     SYMPATHY 

TO  HER 

WHO  WAS  THE  CROWN  OP   HIS  EARTHLY  JOY, 

AND  WHO  IS  NOW   LEFT  TO   BE   HIS  DEBPEST   MOURNER, 

AND 

TO  HIS  ORPHANED  CHILDREN ; 

WITH  EARNEST  PRAYER  THAT,  LIKE  THEIR  BELOVED  FATHER,  THEY  MAY  BK 

STEADFAST  IN  FAITH,  JOYPUL  THROUGH  HOPE, 

AND  ROOTED  IN  CHARITY. 


1"  O-<  4  r 


"  He  taught  the  cheerfulness  that  still  is  ours, 
The  sweetness  that  still  lurks  in  human  powers  ; 
If  heaven  be  full  of  stars,  the  earth  has  flowers. 

"  His  was  the  searching  thought,  the  glowing  mind, 
The  eager  will,  but  soon  to  God  resign'd, — 
And,  more  than  all,  the  feeling  just  and  kind. 

"  His  pleasures  were  as  melodies  from  reeds ; 
In  books,  sweet  music,  and  unselfish  deeds, 
Finding  immortal  flowers  in  human  weeds. 

"  He  deem'd  man's  life  no  feverish  dream  of  oare, 
But  a  high  pathway  into  freer  air, 
Lit  up  with  golden  hopes  and  duties  fair. 

"  He  shew'd  how  wisdom  turns  its  hours  to  years, 
Feeding  the  heart  on  joy  instead  of  fears, 
And  worships  God  in  smiles,  and  not  in  tears. 

"  His  thoughts  were  as  a  pyramid  up-piled, 
On  whose  far  top  an  angel  stood  and  smiled ; 
Yet  in  is  heart  was  he  a  simple  child." 


PREFACE. 


IT  may  be  thought  superfluous  to  adtt  another  to  those 
records  of  the  lives  of  brave  and  Christian  soldiers 
which  are  already  before  the  public.  "  Memoirs,"  it 
may  be  said,  "  like  those  of  Sir  Henry  Havelock  and 
Captain  Hammond,  have  sufficiently  answered  the  ques- 
tion, '  Can  a  gallant  soldier  be  a  consistent  and  devoted 
Christian  ?'  Why,  then,  need  another  example  be  added 
to  the  list?" 

Possibly  the  little  book  now  edited  may  itseir  answer 
that  inquiry. 

It  is  the  history  of  one  who  was  a  Christian,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave, — one  whose 
path  of  shining  light,  trodden  at  the  first  by  infant 
feet,  although  here  and  there  indeed  some  shadow  may 
have  crossed  it,  still  shone  brighter  and  brighter  unto 
the  perfect  day. 

And  it  is  the  history  of  one  who  never  felt  that  his 


Vlil  PREFACE. 

early  consecration  of  himself  to  the  service  of  his  God, 
could  be  marred  by  embracing  the  service  of  his  Queen 
and  country. 

That  the  snares  of  his  profession  were  not  permitted 
to  alienate  his  heart  from  the  life  of  faith  upon  the 
Son  of  God,  will  be  proved  by  this  brief  but  faithful 
record. 

It  has  been  compiled  from  the  testimonies  of  those 
friends  and  relations  who  could  most  truly  tell  what 
Arthur  Vandeleur's  character  was  in  the  various  stages 
of  his  life,  and  at  the  desire  of  her  with  whom  alone 
rested  the  right  and  privilege  to  sacrifice  the  sacred 
privacy  of  her  husband's  thoughts  and  feelings  and 
springs  of  action,  as  an  offering  to  her  God.  This  sacri- 
fice has  been  made,  in  the  humble  hope  that  he,  whose 
lips  were  early  sealed  by  death,  might  in  this  manner 
yet  speaU  lor  that  Saviour  whom  in  life  he  delighted  to 
honour,  "  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  His  grace/'  and, 
through  the  might  of  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  life,  for 
the  winning  of  many  who  are  now  dwelling  in  the 
region  and  shadow  of  death,  to  the  kingdom  of  light, 
and  life,  and  glory. 

It  is  earnestly  requested  that  each  one  who  reads 
this  book  would  pause  here  for  a  moment,  to  pray — 
GOD,  OF  HIS  FREE  MERCY,  GRANT  THIS,  TO  THE 
HONOUR  OF  HIS  WELL-BELOVED  SON. 


PREFACE.  IX 

The  world  has  seen  with  what  calm  courage  the 
Christian  can  meet  death,  amidst  the  fierce  excitement 
and  mortal  terrors  of  a  battle-field.  But  this  Chris- 
tian soldier  met  death  alone,  step  by  step  steadily 
advancing  face  to  face  with  the  "  last  enemy,"  and  yet 
"feared  no  evil"  "  There  is  NO  DEATH,"  he  said,  "for  a 
man  who  believes  in  the  Saviour.  He  cannot  die.  He 
is  in  '  the  Life/  for  he  is  in  JESUS  ;  and  thus  he  is  a 
part  of  Life  Eternal." 


If  one  child  should  be  persuaded  to  seek  the  Saviour 
early,  by  learning  from  this  story  of  a  Christian  child, 
the  truth  of  the  promise,  "  They  that  seek  Me  early 
shall  find  Me :  " — if  one  boy  or  youth  should  be  led,  in 
the  spring-time  of  health  and  spirits,  and  joyful  sense 
of  life  and  its  pleasures,  to  follow  the  example  of  him 
by  whom  the  words  were  obeyed,  and  in  whom  ful- 
filled, "  Keep  innocency,  and  observe  the  thing  that  is 
just,  for  that  shall  bring  a  man  peace  at  the  last:" — if 
one  young  soldier  or  civilian,  who  may  have  more 
clearly  recognised  the  duty  of  "  believing  with  the 
heart  unto  righteousness "  than  that  of  "  confessing 

o  o 

with  the  mouth  unto  salvation,"  should  be  induced 
henceforth  never  more  to  be  ashamed  to  confess  the 
faith  of  Christ  crucified,  and  manfully  to  fight  under 


X  PREFACE. 

His  banner ;  by  the  narrative  of  this  young  soldier, 
who  was  "valiant  for  the  truth  upon  earth,"  and, 
boldly  confessing  his  Saviour  before  men,  found  the 
promise  true,  "Them  that  honour  Me,  I  will  honour:" 
— if  one  soul  be  brought,  in  humble  faith  and  de- 
pendence upon  HL»L»  "  without  whom  nothing  is  strong, 
nothing  is  holy,"  to  realise  that  "  He  that  believeth 
on  the  Son  of  God  hath  everlasting  life,"  and  to  say, 
"  Henceforth  I  live !  no  longer  a  bare,  self-centred 
existence,  but,  like  him  of  whom  I  have  read,  I  will 
live  a  life  of  faith  upon  the  Son  of  God ;  and,  re- 
deeming the  time,  I  will  seek  on  every  side,  by  my 
life  and  by  my  words,  to  persuade  others  to  learn  to 
know  Him  whom  to  know  is  life  eternal,  holiness 
eternal,  happiness  eternal : " — then  will  the  writer  of 
these  memorials  bless  God  for  the  call  given,  thus  to 
attempt  to  embalm  the  memory  of  another  CHRISTIAN 
SOLDIER. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAP.  PAGB 

I. — THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE 1 

II. — THE  FIRST  SORROW, 13 

III. — CLOUDS  AND  SUNSHINE 19 

IV. — ONWARD  AND  UPWARD 25 

V. — TRUE  HEROISM 67 

VI.— THE  LIGHT  BURNING 65 

VII. — EARNEST  WORKING 77 

VIII.— THE  CAMP 103 

IX. — ACTIVE  SERVICE 115 

X.— THE  HOSPITAL 137 

XL— THE  SIEGE 147 

XII. — HOPES  FULFILLED, 177 

XIII. — MARRIED  LIFE ..211 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

XIV.— THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH 229 

XV.— NEAR  HOME 249 

XVI.— THE  LAST  SLEEP ..279 


ADDRESS  BY  MAJOR  VANDELEUR. 

THE  CAMERA  ;  OR,  THE   BELIEVER  CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF 

His  SAVIOUR ..289 


CHAPTER  I. 

fuming  of  fife. 


"  He  walked  with  God  in  holy  joy, 
Whilst  yet  his  years  were  few; 
The  deep,  glad  spirit  of  the  b<?y, 
To  love  and  reverence  grew/' 


ARTHUR  VANDELEUR  was  boni  on  the  21st  of  January, 
1829,  at  Ralahine,  the  home  of  his  forefathers,  in  the 
county  of  Clare.  This  place  although  not  situated  in 
the  finest  scenery  of  the  south-west  of  Ireland,  has  still 
a  distinct  character  of  its  own,  in  the  beauty  of  the  rocks 
amongst  which  it  is  cradled,  now  bold  an-1  rugged,  now 
clothed  with  verdure.  Ralahine  possesses  also  the  charm 
of  historic  association,  in  the  gray  ruin  of  an  ancient 
castle,  which  still  towers  in  melancholy  pride ;  vener- 
able not  with  age  alone,  but  also  with  traditions  of  the 
gallant  deeds  of  its  hereditary  po  ssessors  in  the  olden 
time. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  say  how  much  the  asso- 
ciations of  his  earliest  years,  passed  in  the  wild  scenery 
of  Ralahine,  and  in  playing  beneath  those  ruins,  rich 
with  their  legends  of  the  olden  time,  may  have  aided 
in  developing  those  gifts  of  a  keen  delight  in  the 
beautiful,  and  a  romantic  ideal  of  chivalrous  courage 
and  honour,  which  gave  so  bright  a  glow  to  the  charm 
of  Arthur  Vandeleur's  mind  and  character  in  after 
life. 


4  THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE. 

He  was  the  youngest  of  five  children.  Two  of  his 
sisters  died  of  decline,  in  the  first  bloom  of  their  youth  ; 
and  his  only  brother  was  drowned  when  bathing,  whilst 
Arthur  and  his  surviving  sister  were  still  very  young. 

Little  seems  to  have  been  recorded  of  the  days  of 
his  childhood  at  home.  But  the  excellence  of  his  con- 
duct when  he  was  launched  into  school-life — his 
truthfulness,  industry,  and  docility — indioate  a  careful 
and  wise  training  of  his  mental  and  moral  being  in 
early  years.  That  he  owed  this  chiefly  to  his  mother, 
there  can  be  little  doubt ;  for  his  father  appears  to 
have  been  so  wholly  engrossed  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  speculations,  that  the  entire  charge  of  the  family 
devolved  upon  Mrs  Vandeleur. 

In  the  year  1835,  circumstances,  into  which  it  is 
unnecessary  to  enter  here,  induced  Mrs  Vandeleur  to 
remove  with  her  children  to  Limerick,  where  they 
resided  during  the  greater  part  of  the  four  succeeding 
years. 

At  that  time,  it  was  a  not  unfrequent  custom,  in 
Ireland,  for  the  children  of  gentlemen  to  be  sent  to 
Sunday-schools,  in  order  that  they  should  share  in 
those  religious  instructions  which  are  so  readily  ac- 
corded to  the  poor,  but  which  are,  too  often,  out  of 
reach  of  the  conventional  habits  of  the  rich. 

Accordingly,  the  little  Arthur,  in  his  sixth  year, 
was  sent  every  Sunday  to  a  school  in  connexion  with 
the  Chapel  of  the  Asylum  for  the  Blind,  at  Limerick. 


THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE.  5 

Here,  by  the  good  hand  of  his  God  upon  him,  he  was 
placed  under  the  teaching  of  Lieutenant  Carter  of  the 
1st  Royals;  a  young  soldier  of  the  Cross,  who,  con- 
strained by  the  love  of  Christ,  consecrated  some  of 
his  Sabbath  hours  to  the  task,  shunned  by  many  a 
professing  Christian  as  irksome,  of  instilling  into 
the  minds  of  children  the  truths  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ. 

In  a  letter  dated  May  25,  1861,  Captain  Carter 
writes  :  "  Although  twenty-six  years  have  passed  since 
that  time,  I  have  a  very  distinct  recollection  of  the 
little  Arthur  Vandeleur  of  those  days.  There  was  no 
one  in  his  class  (which  was  the  first)  whom  I  can  re- 
collect so  well ;  indeed,  I  could  never  forget  his  sweet 
countenance,  with  his  dark-blue,  animated  eyes  beam- 
ing with  pleasure  as  he  took  his  seat  amongst  the  little 
circle  around  me.  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  his 
evident  pleasure  in  attending  the  school.  He  seemed 
much  gratified  when  I  accosted  him,  which  I  never 
failed  to  do;  and  I  was  sure  of  receiving  in  return 
'  childhood's  fondest  look.' 

"I  used  to  attend  the  school  in  my  regimental 
uniform,  and  can  well  believe  that  his  very  youthful 
mind  was  considerably  impressed  by  his  teacher  in 
consequence.  His  lessons  were  always  well  prepared : 
these  consisted  in  answering  questions  on  a  chapter, 
or  portion  of  a  chapter,  in  the  New  Testament,  and  in 
repeating  texts  of  Scripture  learnt  by  heart,  proving 


6  THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE. 

some  cardinal  doctrine,  such  as  justification  by  faith, 
the  Divinity  of  the  Saviour,  &c.,  &c. 

"  After  I  left  Limerick,  my  friend  the  Rev.  Dr  Carr, 
one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Blind  Asylum  Chapel,  told 
me  that  '  little  Vandeleur  often  used  to  inquire  for  me 
with  earnest  and  grateful  affection.'  But  since  then, 
until  this  month  of  May  1861,  I  had  heard  nothing- 
more  of  him.  It  would  have  been  a  great  pleasure  to 
have  met  him  in  after-life,  for  I  am  sure  the  endearing 
traits  I  remember  must  have  developed  into  a  charm- 
ing character." 

To  the  kind  and  earnest  instructions  of  Captain 
Carter,  Arthur  often  and  thankfully  referred  in  later 
years.  For  to  those  instructions  he  traced,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  the  first  desire  of  his  heart,  in  early 
childhood,  to  give  himself  up  to  the  love  and  service 
of  that  Saviour  of  whom  his  teacher  delighted  to  speak 
to  him. 

"  And  thankfully  we  praise  the  grace, 

Which  him  thus  led  to  be 
An  early  seeker  of  that  Face- 
Which  he  should  early  see." 

Perhaps  it  would  be  difficult  to  over-estimate  the 
importance  of  young  men  of  education  and  position 
coming  forward  to  teach  in  Sunday  schools.  Their 
very  example  is  a  lesson  which  cannot  be  forgotten 
by  their  pupils,  and  the  truths  which  they  teach,  with 
the  clearness  of  a  manly  understanding,  and  in  the 
warmth  of  a  first  love  to  their  Master  and  only  Saviour, 


THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE.  7 

sink  down  into  children's  hearts  as  good  seed  sown  imto 
life  eternal. 

Arthur  Vandeleur's  first  trial  of  school-life  was 
made  at  the  grammar-school  at  Ennis,  when  he  was 
in  his  ninth  year ;  but  as  the  little  boy  was  not 
happy  there,  his  tender  mother  removed  him  at  the 
end  of  three  months ;  and  in  the  summer  of  1839,  he 
was  sent  to  Mr  Hare's  school,  at  Delgany,  county 
"Wicklow. 

Here,  the  good  work  begun  by  Captain  Carter  was 
not  neglected.  Arthur  had  the  privilege  of  being 
placed  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  late  Kev.  William 
Cleaver,  Eector  of  Delgany,  a  man  of  God,  whose  name 
is  a  password  to  love  and  reverence. 

"Young  as  we  were  at  that  time,"  writes  one  of 
Arthur's  schoolfellows,*  "we  used  often  to  speak  to- 
gether of  the  heart-searching,  spiritual  sermons  which 
we  heard  in  that  church.  We  regularly  took  notes  of 
the  sermons,  and  were  each  expected  to  repeat  a  por- 
tion of  the  Sunday  morning  sermon  before  leaving  the 
dinner-table. 

"  We  boys  used  always  to  be  glad  when  we  saw  Mr 
Cleaver,  and  next  best  to  him,  Mr  Ormsby,  one  of 
his  curates,  in  the  preacher's  seat. 

"  It  was  Mr  Cleaver's  custom,  alternating  with  one 
of  his  curates,  to  come  once  a  fortnight  to  catechise  us 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  he  had  a  weekly  lecture  to  which 

*  Rev.  E.  Anderson,  Hockering  Rectory. 


8  THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE. 

we  were  frequently  taken.  The  instructions  and  ser- 
mons of  such  good  men  tended,  I  feel  sure,  in  no 
slight  degree,  to  produce  those  early  impressions  on 
dear  Arthur's  mind  and  heart  which  were  so  lasting, 
and,  through  God's  blessing,  led  to  such  glorious  re- 
sults." 

It  was  at  Delgany  that  his  military  ardour  was  first 
excited  ;  unless,  indeed,  we  may  trace  it  to  the  impres- 
sion made  by  the  weekly  sight  of  Captain  Carter's 
uniform  in  the  Sunday-schoolroom  at  Limerick !  A 
retired  captain  of  a  Highland  regiment  lived  in  the 
neighbourhood ;  and  so  great  was  his  love  of  his  old 
military  pursuits,  that,  for  his  own  amusement,  he 
used  to  visit  Delgany  twice  a-week,  for  the  purpose  of 
drilling  the  boys,  who  seemed  to  have  heartily  fallen  in 
with  his  martial  spirit,  "  so  that  we  became,"  adds  Mr 
Anderson,  "  quite  a  disciplined  corps,  and  attained  a 
very  fair  proficiency  in  company  drill" 

This  school  was  broken  up  in  the  spring  of  1840,  in 
consequence  of  the  death  of  Mr  Hare.  In  the  month 
of  August  of  that  year,  Mrs  Vandeleur  placed  her  son 
under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Spedding  of  Green- 
field, county  Cork.  At  this  school  he  remained  for 
three  years,  and  won  golden  opinions  both  from  tutors 
and  companions.  Here,  in  addition  to  an  able  school- 
master, Arthur  enjoyed  the  blessing,  so  rare  in  those 
days,  although,  thank  God,  lees  uncommon  now,  of  a 
kind  and  motherly  friend,  not  only  to  watch  over  his 


THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE.  9 

physical  welfare,  and  to  sympathise  with  his  daily  little 
joys  and  sorrows,  but  also  to  foster  the  growth  of  that 
good  seed  which  was  springing  up  in  his  young  heart. 

It  was  Mrs  Spedding's  custom,  at  the  conclusion  of 
family  worship  in  the  evening,  to  allow  any  of  the 
boys  who  chose,  to  remain  with  her,  in  order  to  repeat 
a  few  verses  of  some  hymn  which  they  had  selected  to 
commit  to  memory.  Arthur  always  shewed  peculiar 
pleasure  in  this  exercise,  and  never  failed  to  bring 
his  hymn  perfectly  learned.  To  encourage  the  boys, 
Mrs  Spedding  gave  little  prizes,  at  the  end  of  the 
half-year,  to  those  who  could  best  repeat  the  greatest 
number  of  hymns ;  and  Arthur  invariably  obtained  the 
first  prize  in  his  class.  He  was  by  this  means  laying 
up  in  his  memory  a  rich  store,  from  which,  in  after 
years,  he  was  enabled. so  frequently  to  speak  to  him- 
self, "  in  psalms,  and  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs,  sing- 
ing and  making  melody  in  his  heart  to  the  Lord." 
And  to  this,  indeed,  much  may  have  been  owing  of  his 
eminent  possession  of  that  spiritual  mind  "which  is 
life  and  peace,"  and  of  that  overflowing  gratefulness 
of  heart  which  made  his  whole  life  a  psalm  of  thanks- 
giving unto  his  God. 

In  alluding  to  his  school-days  at  Greenfield,  Mrs 
Spedding  writes: — "During  the  three  years  Arthur 
Vandeleur  spent  with  us,  he  was  beloved  by  Mr  Sped- 
ding and  all  his  tutors,  for  his  peculiarly  affectionate 
and  gentle  disposition ;  which  also  made  him  a  great 


10  THE  MOENING  OF  LIFE. 

favourite  with  his  schoolfellows.  He  possessed  both 
talents  and  industry ;  so  that  he  gave  little  trouble 
to  his  teachers,  to  please  whom  seemed  to  be  his  con- 
stant desire.  Mr  Spcdding  says  he  does  not  remember 
ever  having  been  obliged  to  find  fault  with  him." 

The  same  little  light  which  had  shone  in  his  home, 
and  at  Delgany,  burned  brightly  at  the  Greenfield 
school. 

"  When  quite  a  little  boy,"  writes  his  only  surviving 
sister,  "  he  was  always  very  fond  of  reading  the  Bible. 
And  when  he  went  to  school  at  Greenfield  in  his 
twelfth  year,  he  used  regularly  to  retire  to  his  room 
for  this  purpose  and  for  prayer,  during  the  half-hour 
granted  for  recreation  after  breakfast.  At  first  he 
was  ridiculed  and  even  persecuted  on  this  account  by 
some  of  his  companions ;  but,  by  and  by,  his  stead- 
fastness induced  two  or  three  to  follow  his  example, 
and  then  by  degrees  more  joined  them,  until  at  last 
the  numbers  so  increased  as  to  cause  them  to  be 
missed  from  the  playground  by  Mr  Spedding.  After 
some  considerable  search,  he  found  them,  to  his  great 
surprise  and  gratification,  assembled  on  their  knees 
round  Arthur,  who  was  praying  with  them."* 

An  early  friend, •)•  in  alluding  to  this  circumstance, 
says : — "  As  long  as  Arthur  remained  at  the  school,  this 
prayer-meeting  was  sustained,  and  continued  to  prosper." 

*  The  same  fact  is  recorded  by  Mrs  Spedding 
•J-  The  Rev.  George  Pakenham  Despard. 


THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE.  11 

Shortly  after  he  arrived  at  Greenfield,  he  had  the 
pleasure,  keenly  enjoyed  by  a  heart  so  alive  to  friend- 
ship and  affection,  of  being  joined  there  by  the  beloved 
companion  of  his  days  at  Delgany.  Mr  Anderson 
writes : — 

"  I  followed  him  to  Greenfield  on  the  17th  of  Au- 
gust, and  can  never  forget  the  hearty  welcome  he  gave 
me,  as  he  ran  to  meet  me.  He  had  a  wonderfully  bright 
and  cheerful  countenance,  which  was  very  delightful 
to  see,  and  seldom  failed  to  shed  some  of  its  own  light 
over  the  faces  of  those  who  looked  upon  it. 

"  Arthur  was  always  very  attentive  to  his  studies ; 
but  though  diligent  in  school-hours,  there  was  no  boy 
who  entered  with  more  spirit  into  the  games  than  he 
did. 

"I  do  not  remember  one  instance  in  which  he  re- 
ceived or  deserved  punishment  for  ill  conduct;  and 
very  seldom  did  he  receive  any  correction  on  account 
of  his  lessons ;  although  our  excellent  master  quite 
carried  out  the  directions  of  Solomon ;  and  cannot  be 
accused  of  having  spared  the  rod  ! " 

Another  of  his  schoolfellows  thus  writes  :*  "  I  have 
a  distinct  recollection  of  Arthur  Vandeleur  as  a  play- 
fellow. His  disposition  was  kindly  yet  sensitive ;  his 
temper  was  quick,  but  not  calculated  to  provoke.  I 
thought  him  very  good-looking,  and  careful  of  his 
personal  appearance.  I  never  knew  him  connected 

*  The  Rev.  Henry  O'DonnelL 


J2  THE  MORNING  OF  LIFE. 

with  anything  vicious ;  on  the  contrary,  I  regarded 
him  as  a  boy  incapable  of  corrupting  influence.  I 
valued  his  friendship  because  he  was  in  every  way  a 
superior  boy,  and  an  improving  companion.  When 
we  were  together  we  did  not  commit  ourselves  to  any 
of  the  besetting  sins  of  boys,  such  as  idleness,  mali- 
cious mischief,  untruthfulness,  or  disobedience.  I  was 
not  at  all  surprised  to  find,  by  the  Memoir  of  the  late 
Captain  Hedley  Vicars,  that  Major  Vandeleur  had  be- 
come one  of  those  who  fought  under  a  more  glorious 
flag  than  that  of  any  temporal  monarch,  that  he  had 
enlisted  as  a  soldier  of  the  Cross  of  Christ.  My  ac- 
quaintance with  him  in  his  boyhood  left  this  impres- 
sion on  my  mind,  that  if  he  professed  to  live  in  Christ, 
that  profession  could  not  fail  to  be  unquestionably 
sincere." 


CHAPTER  IL 

f  (ft  first  gomrto. 

•'In  childhood's  hour  I  lingered  near 
The  hallowed  seat  with  listening  ear ; 
And  gentle  words  that  mother  would  give, 
To  fit  me  to  die,  and  to  teach  me  to  live. 
She. taught  me  that  shame  would  never  betide 
With  truth  for  my  creed,  and  God  for  nay  guide 
And  I  almost  worshipped  her  as  she  smiled, 
And  turned  from  her  Bible  to  bless  her  child." 


A  CLOUD  was  now  about  to  darken  the  sunny  path- 
way of  Arthur  Vandeleur's  young  life ;  the  shadow  of 
which,  although  traced  more  dimly,  as  time  brought 
him  new  hopes,  new  loves,  new  joys,  had  not  vanished 
all  away  before  he  had  himself  entered  "  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death." 

Grief  for  the  loss  of  her  elder  children,  and  a  life- 
sorrow  which  was  even  more  deeply-seated,  had  preyed 
upon  Mrs  Vandeleur's  delicate  constitution,  until  at 
length  she  sank  into  a  lingering  decline,  and  died  in 
the  month  of  June,  1 843. 

It  was  in  watching  by  his  mother  in  many  an  hour 
of  her  weakness  and  suffering,  and  in  seeking  to  soothe 
her  sorrows,  that  the  warm  affection  of  Arthur's  boyish 
heart  ripened  into  that  delicate  yet  intense  sympathy 
which,  in  the  friendships  of  his  after  years,  mingled 
an  almost  womanly  tenderness  with  the  strength  of 
a  manly  mind  and  character.  One  felt  that,  earlier  or 
later,  there  had  been  a  deep  well  sunk  in  the  ground 
of  his  heart,  from  which  such  pure,  fresh  fountains  of 
affection  had  sprung  up. 


16  THE  FIRST  SORROW. 

Often  would  he  sit  by  his  mother's  side,  and  smooth- 
ing her  hand  in  his,  gaze  upon  her  worn  face,  and 
into  her  sorrowful  eyes,  until  his  own  overflowed  with 

• 

tears ;  whilst  fondly  and  fervently  he  pleaded  with  her 
to  tell  him  every  source  of  her  trouble.  But  of  her 
deepest  grief,  she  could  not  as  a  wife  speak  to  her 
child,  one  with  her  though  he  was  in  every  other 
feeling. 

But  although  that  wound  lay  too  deep  for  healing, 
the  hopefulness  of  her  son's  buoyant  youth  and  happy 
temperament  had  a  sustaining  and  a  cheering  power, 
as  he  gently  strove  to  assure  her  of  his  belief  in  days 
of  health  and  happiness  still  in  store — fond  hopes  of 
sanguine  boyhood,  too  soon  to  be  destroyed  by  the 
dread  reality  of  death  ! 

This  love  for  his  mother,  with  the  memory  of  her 
love  for  him,  was  destined  to  be  like  a  guardian-angel 
to  Arthur,  even  when  her  earthly  presence  had  long 
been  withdrawn.  No  lapse  of  time  seemed  to  have 
power  to  lessen  its  tender  and  holy  influence. 

"  To  the  last,"  writes  one  whose  heart  was  the 
trusted  depository  of  his  thoughts  and  feelings,  "  to 
the  last,  he  cherished  the  little  book  of  Prayers  and 
Promises,  which  had  been  one  of  her  favourite  com- 
panions, and  delighted  in  repeating  the  hymns  she 
loved." 

And  well  do  I  remember  the  deep  emotion  with 
which  he  spoke  to  me  of  the  blessing  granted  through 


THE  FIRST  SORROW.  17 

her  dying  words  to  him,  when  he  was  himself  within 
four  days  of  meeting  her  again  in  glory. 

Notwithstanding  the  tender  and  watchful  care  which 
Mrs  Vandeleur  had  bestowed  upon  the  moral  training 
of  her  son,  she  saw,  when  the  light  of  eternity  was 
streaming  over  her  past  life,  that,  whilst  pruning  the 
tendrils,  she  had  missed  the  root  of  the  matter.  This 
was  a  subject  of  deep  regret  to  her  throughout  her 
dying  illness ;  and,  redeeming  the  time  which  yet  re- 
mained, she  sought  to  lead  her  child  to  Him  who  is 
"  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life  "  of  all  godliness. 

At  their  last  parting  (for  she  died  whilst  Arthur  was 
at  school)  she  laid  her  hand  upon  the  head  of  her  pre- 
cious boy,  and  entreated  him  to  seek  with  his  whole 
heart  that  Saviour,  whose  gracious  forgiving  love  she 
was  then  learning  to  realise. 

She  took  from  the  young  truthful  lips  so  dear  to 
her,  a  solemn  promise,  that  as  long  as  he  lived  he 
would  never  allow  a  day  to  pass  without  reading  a 
chapter  in  his  Bible,  with  prayer ;  and  that,  in  every 
hour  of  temptation,  he  would  pray  to  his  Saviour  for 
grace  and  strength  to  resist  and  to  overcome. 

With  an  earnestness  only  less  intense  than  her  own, 
Arthur  gave  the  promise ;  and  every  day  of  his  after 
life,  save  those  passed  in  the  unconsciousness  of  fever, 
witnessed  its  faithful  fulfilment. 


CHAPTER  IIL 


Cometh  sunshine  after  rain, 
After  mourning  joy  again, 
After  heavy,  bitter  grief 

Dawneth  surely  sweet  relief  ; 
And  my  soul,  who  from  her  height 
Sank  to  realms  of  woe  and  night, 
Wiugeth  now  to  heaven  her  flight." 


WITH  his  mother  had  departed  the  solitary  influence 
which  might  have  led  Arthur  Vandeleur  to  fix  upon  a 
less  wandering  life  than  that  of  a  soldier.  His  early 
fancies  for  the  military  profession,  no  longer  receiving 
any  check  from  the  considerate  tenderness  of  his  filial 
affection,  now  resolved  themselves  into  a  decided  choice. 

A  nomination  to  the  Eoyal  Artillery  having  been 
procured  for  him  by  the  late  Lord  Fitzgerald  and 
Vesey,  he  was  placed  by  his  guardian  at  Mr  Miller's 
academy  at  Woolwich,  where  his  studies  were  con- 
ducted with  a  view  to  his  future  profession. 

He  passed  the  examination  for  his  cadetship,  suc- 
cessfully ;  and  in  his  sixteenth  year  he  was  admitted 
into  the  Royal  Academy. 

Similar  trials  awaited  him  here  to  those  which  he 
had  encountered  at  school.  "  But  he  exhibited/''  writes 
his  early  friend,  Mr  Despard,  "  the  same  faithfulness  ; 
and  in  the  end  gained  the  same  respect.  In  this,  and  in 
the  more  stirring  part  of  his  life,  I  need  scarcely  tell 
you,  he  continued  faithful  to  the  promise  he  had  given 
to  his  dying  mother.  Nor  need  I  say  how  eminently 


22  CLOUDS  AND  SUNSHINE. 

his  stability  of  Christian  principle,  his  growth  in  grace, 
and  his  powers  of  usefulness,  are  to  be  attributed  to  the 
honour  he  put  upon  the  Word  of  God,  and  to  his 
habit  of  daily  meditating  upon  it. 

"  He  triumphed,  in  early  life,  over  that  false  shame 
which  the  young  often  entertain  on  the  subject  of 
personal  religion  in  the  presence  of  their  companions ; 
and  the  result  was  a  strength  of  character,  an  inflexi- 
bility of  purpose,  and  a  consistency  of  life,  which  none 
of  the  trials  nor  temptations  of  his  professional  career, 
however  formidable,  were  able  to  destroy." 

When  referring  to  this  period  of  his  youth,  only  five 
days  before  his  death,  Arthur  Vandeleur  remarked  : — 
"  The  Royal  Academy  was  a  vortex  of  iniquity  at  that 
time.  At  once,  on  entering  it,  I  saw  what  was  before 
me — either  to  go  all  lengths  in  sin,  or  to  make  a  stand 
on  the  Lord's  side.  But  I  was  very  young  then,  not 
sixteen ;  and  I  felt  utterly  unequal  to  standing  alone. 
Suddenly,  I  remembered  my  mother's  farewell  words  to 
me,  the  last  time  we  parted,  shortly  before  her  death  : — 
'  Put  your  trust  in  your  God  and  Saviour,'  she  said ; 
'  keep  close  to  Him ;  and  He  will  keep  you  and  sus- 
tain you  in  every  temptation  and  trial  of  your  future 
life.' 

"  I  remembered  this,  and  the  promise  I  had  given 
her ;  and  made  my  choice  for  her  God  and  mine — her 
Saviour  and  mine.  And,  oh,  how  faithful,  how  mer- 
ciful, how  forgiving,  have  I  found  Him  to  be  !  How 


CLOUDS  ANp  SUNSHINE.  23 


He  has  borne  with  my  shortcomings  and  sins  ;  and 
has  never,  never  forsaken  me  !  " 

Once,  only  once,  in  the  course  of  his  life,  and  that 
was  during  his  residence  in  the  Academy,  did  he  wil- 
fully lead  another  into  sin  and  folly.  To  his  dying 
day,  the  remembrance  of  this  was  anguish  to  his  soul. 
He  repeatedly  alluded  to  it  —  in  hours  of  health  as 
well  as  in  those  of  sickness  —  in  conversation  with  one 
who  was  nearest  and  dearest  to  his  heart,  and  who 
loved  him  only  the  more  devotedly  for  his  truthful 
and  confiding  transparency.  "  I  led  him  on,"  he  would 
exclaim  ;  "  and  now  I  cannot  win  him  back  !  I  have 
not  even  been  able  to  trace  his  course.  And  what,  if, 
by  encouragement  to  one  sin,  I  may  have  given  an  im- 
petus to  an  immortal  soul,  in  a  downward  course, 
which  may  end  in  everlasting  misery  !  " 

It  may  have  been  owing  to  the  enduring  remem- 
brance of  this  sin  against  a  brother's  soul,  so  deeply 
impressed  upon  the  tender  ground  of  an  unseared  con- 
science, that  Arthur  Vandeleur,  in  his  years  of  man- 
hood, was  known  to  plead  so  frequently  in  prayer,  these 
petitions  of  the  royal  Psalmist,  "  Remember  not  the  sin 
of  my  youth,  nor  my  transgressions  ;  but  according  to 
thy  mercy  remember  thou  me  for  thy  goodness'  sake,  0 
Lord."  "  Keep  back  thy  servant  from  presumptuous 
sins  :  let  them  not  have  dominion  over  me  ;  then  shall 
I  be  upright,  and  I  shall  be  innocent  from  the  great 
transgression." 


24  CLOUDS  AND  SUNSHINE. 

In  allusion  to  the  time  passed  at  the  Academy,  he 
thus  wrote  in  his  diary  some  months  after  he  had  re- 
turned to  Woolwich  as  a  commissioned  officer  : — 

"  Oh,  my  God !  Thou  hast  watched  over  me,  and 
hast  strengthened  me  to  resist  the  varied  and  subtle 
assaults  of  my  dreadful  enemy.  Thou  didst  enable  me 
to  resist,  in  some  measure,  the  temptations  to  which  I 
was  exposed  at  the  Koyal  Academy.  I  desire  to  render 
Thee  all  the  glory ;  for  what  am  I  but  a  vile,  miserable 
creature,  not  worthy  of  Thy  notice,  0  great  and  good 
God!" 

A  brother  officer  *  of  Arthur  Vandeleur's,  who  was 
a  cadet  at  the  same  time  that  he  was,  and  who  has  of 
late  years  not  only  been  brought  to  the  Saviour  him- 
self, but  has  likewise  been  greatly  owned  and  honoured 
of  God  in  winning  others  to  his  Eedeemer,  thus  writes, 
in  answer  to  a  request  that  he  would  furnish  some 
details  of  Arthur's  daily  life  at  this  period  : — 

"  Alas  !  I  cannot  help  you  as  I  would ;  for,  when 
Arthur  Vandeleur,  at  the  Academy,  was  confessing 
Christ,  under  most  trying  circumstances,  I  was  living 
in  wilful  sin  ;  consequently,  I  had  but  few  opportuni- 
ties of  knowing  anything  of  his  inward  life.  I  only 
saw  and  despised  that  in  the  outward  life,  which  I 
afterwards  learned,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  love  and 
honour." 

*  Captain  Orr,  R.A. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

©nfoarfc  anfc 


"  Onward  for  the  glorious  prize, 

Onward  yet ; 

Straight  and  clear  before  thine  eyes 
In  the  homeward  pathway  lies : 
Rest  is  not  beneath  the  skies; 
Onward  yet. 

"Onward  till  the  dawn  of  day; 

Onward  yet : 

Tarry  not,  around  thy  way 
Danger  lies  :  oh  !  fear  to  stay ; 
Rouse,  then,  Christian,  watch  and  pray : 

Onward  yet." 


His  course  of  military  education  successfully  com- 
pleted, and  his  commission  obtained,  Arthur  was  now 
at  liberty  to  enjoy  himself  amongst  his  friends  in 
Ireland  for  a  short  time,  previous  to  his  joining  the 
regiment.  This  "leave"  was  chiefly  spent  at  the 
delightful  home  of  his  kind  relative  and  guardian, 
James  Molony,  Esq.  of  Kiltanon,  county  Clare.  Here 
he  enjoyed  all  the  pleasures  of  country  life  in  a  scene 
of  singular  beauty,  combined  with  the  happiness  of  a 
home,  in  the  society  of  his  young  cousins  and  their 
honoured  parents. 

Such  society  had  ever  a  peculiar  charm  for  him,  and 
few  persons  had  a  more  remarkable  power  than  he 
possessed,  of  throwing  himself  into  the  very  heart  of  a 
home-circle ;  of  becoming  one  with  its  every  interest, 
and  even  reckoned  among  its  most  cherished  members. 
Bat  at  Kiltanon,  there  was  a  centre  of  deeper  feeling, 
from  which  a  ray  of  distant  hope  diverged,  pointing 
towards  another  home  in  years  of  coming  manhood — a 
hope  held  indeed  in  a  trembling  heart,  but  with  a  grasp 
of  manly  vigour  and  unvarying  constancy.  Vain  were 


28  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

the  warnings  that  from  these  dreams  he  must  one  day 
awaken  to  disappointment.  Arthur  Vandeleur's  was 
just  the  knightly  character  to 

"  Cherish  a  dangerous  hope, 
Dearer  for  danger." 

And  in  this  young  heart,  not  only  was  there  a  strength 
of  purpose  to  battle  with  difficulties,  but  also  a  realis- 
ing faith  that  every  event  of  life  was  in  the  hands  of 
an  Almighty  Father ;  assuring  him  that  if  this  bright 
dream  were  indeed  the  blessing  he  believed,  no  earthly 
obstacle  should  prevent  its  fulfilment. 

About  this  time,  or  rather  almost  immediately  upon 
quitting  the  Academy,  he  commenced  writing  a  diary, 
which  he  kept  with  great  regularity.  Amidst  the 
simple  records  of  a  young  man's  amusements,  interests, 
and  duties,  it  is  remarkable  to  find  so  much  unsparing 
self-investigation,  watchful  circumspection,  and  warm 
religious  feeling,  as  may  be  traced  in  its  pages : — 

"Sunday,  September  26th,  1847.— I  am  shortly  to 
be  commissioned,  and  to  commence  a  new  career. 
Yes ;  then  all  restrictions  which  have  hitherto  bound 
me  will  be  withdrawn,  and  I  may  be  said  to  be  my 
own  master.  But  no ;  thanks  be  to  God,  I  have  a 
Master  in  heaven,  and  a  very  merciful,  kind,  and 
indulgent  Master  He  is.  Shall  I  not,  then,  serve  Him 
with  reverence  and  godly  fear?  Yes ;  I  will  serve  Him 
with  all  my  strength,  and  soul,  and  spirit ;  and  not 


ONWARD  AND  UPWARD.  29 

only  serve,  but  love  and  honour  Him.  But  who  am 
I  that  say,  'I  will  do  this  ? '  or  what  power  have  I  to  do 
anything  of  myself  ?  None !  trusting  in  my  own 
strength.  But  my  earnest  prayer  is,  that  God  would 
give  me  such  a  measure  of  His  grace  and  Holy  Spirit, 
that  I  may  glorify  Him  in  my  body  and  in  my  spirit, 
which  are  His." 

"  Tuesday,  October  5th. — The  text  for  the  clay  is, 
'My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord.'  Truly  it  does.  Oh, 
may  I  be  enabled  to  glorify  Thee  for  Thine  infinite 
mercies ;  but  especially  for  bringing  my  soul  '  out  of 
darkness  to  light,  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God  ! ' 

"  Much  has  occurred  since  I  last  wrote.  The  public 
examination  at  Woolwich,  getting  my  commission,  and 
travelling  from  Woolwich  here,  (Kiltanon).  Thou 
hast  watched  over  me,  0  my  heavenly,  holy  Father — 
yes,  my  FATHER,  for  such  Thou  hast  condescended  to 
call  Thyself  in  Thy  holy  Word.  Hold  me  up  by  Thy 
providence;  keep  me  by  Thy  power;  and,  above  all, 
teach  me  to  know  and  love  Thee  as  much  as  my  frail 
nature  is  capable  of ;  for  my  Redeemer's  sake.  Amen." 

"Friday,  8th. — Glorious  Lord  God,  who  knowest 
every  thought  of  my  heart,  enable  me  to  realise  Thy 
presence  at  all  times ;  let  me  ever  be  fearful  of  offend- 
ing Thee,  from  whom  I  have  received  so  many  signal 
mercies,  and  strive  to  shew  forth  my  gratitude  both 

with  my  mouth  and  by  my  daily  actions Oh, 

have  mercy  upon  this  country,  and  I  beseech  Thee  pre- 


SO  ONWAED  AND  UPWAED. 

serve  those  whom  I  love  from  all  evil.  Keep  them  from 
the  deadly  shot  of  the  cowardly  assassin,  and  from  all 
spiritual  and  bodily  injury.  Oh,  let  Thine  eye  be  ever 
over  us,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.  Amen." 

"Friday,  22?id — I  left  dear  Kiltanon  on  Monday 
last.  Vouchsafe,  0  God,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth, 
to  watch  over  one  whom  I  love.  Keep  her  as  the 
apple  of  Thine  eye ;  hide  her  from  all  that  might  harm 
or  grieve  her,  under  the  shadow  of  Thy  wing. 

"  Saturday,  23rd. — Had  a  long  argument  with  one 
of  my  relations  about  the  uselessness  of  my  ever  think- 
ing of  M as  a  wife  ;  but  although  all  things  are 

now  apparently  against  it,  my  trust  is  in  the  infinite 
mercy  of  my  God :  and  if  it  be  His  will  that  my 
prayers  should  be  answered,  He  can,  by  His  almighty 
power,  cause  such  to  be  the  case ;  and  this  I  most 
earnestly  beg  of  Him  for  the  sake  of  His  dear  Son. 
But  if,  on  the  other  hand,  He  knows  it  to  be  best  that 
the  desire  of  my  heart  should  not  be  granted,  then 
enable  me,  0  God,  to  say  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart, 
'  Thy  will  be  done.' 

'  If  Thou  shouldst  call  me  to  resign 
What  most  I  prized,  it  ne'er  was  mine ; 
I  only  yield  Thee  what  was  Thine ; 
Thy  will  be  done.' 

"  October  23rd — 0  great  and  glorious  Jehovah,  hast 
Thou  already  answered  one  of  my  prayers,  and  so  glori- 
fied Thy  servant  in  making  me  the  humble  instrument 


ONWAED  AND  UPWARD.  31 

in  Thy  hands  of  shewing  to  my  dear  aunt  the  way 
of  salvation  ;  of  pointing  out  to  her  Christ  crucified 
as  her  atonement,  and  of  leading  her  to  Thee  as  her 
reconciled  Father !  Thy  works  are  unsearchable  and 
past  finding  out.  Put  Thy  Holy  Spirit  into  my  heart 
in  much  more  abundant  measure,  that  He  may  shew 
me  what  I  ought  to  speak ;  help  me  to  set  before  my 
dear  aunt,  Jesus  Christ  and  Him  crucified,  as  '  the  Way, 
the  Truth,  and  the  Life ; '  to  shew  her  that,  through 
His  merits,  she  may  approach  boldly  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  to  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in  every 
time  of  need ;  and  so  draw  her  close  to  Thee  that  she 
may  rest  her  entire  hopes  upon  Thy  blessed  Son. 

"  Sunday,  24^. — How  easy  is  it  to  speak  and  write 
seriously,  compared  to  what  it  is  to  think  seriously ! 
How  difficult  it  is  to  resist  the  tempter,  and  how  well 
Satan  knows  every  person's  weakest  points !  O  gra- 
cious Saviour,  put  Thy  Holy  Spirit  into  my  heart, 
that  He  may  enable  me  to  resist  Satan  in  whatever 
disguise  he  presents  himself.  Grant,  I  beseech  Thee, 
that  I  may  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
my  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Let  me  learn 
to  resist  the  devil  more ;  that,  gaining  daily  more 
experience  under  the  banner  of  my  dear  Saviour,  I 
may  at  last  be  able  to  interpose  the  '  shield  of  faith ' 
before  every  dart  which  my  malignant  and  active 
enemy  can  hurl  at  my  soul. 

"  October,  Monday,  25£/i. — This  evening  I  have  been 


32  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

much  delighted  with  some  examples  of  Divine  grace  in 
the  Army  and  Navy,  (which  I  read  of  in  a  book  called 
'  The  Church  in  the  Army,')  particularly  by  that  of  a 
young  midshipman  who  heard  the  truth  one  evening, 
and,  immediately  upon  hearing  it,  God  brought  it  home 
with  such  power  to  his  soul  that  he,  that  very  night,  '  re- 
joiced with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.'  Would 
to  God  that  I  might  be  like  him  !  Oh,  give  me,  gra- 
cious God,  that  'peace  which  passeth  understanding, 
and  which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.' 
For  in  Thee,  0  Lord,  do  I  trust ;  yea,  all  my  hope  is 
in  the  all-sufficient  merits  of  my  Redeemer.  I  do 
heartily  repent  me  of  my  former  sins,  and  utterly  ab- 
hor them.  I  believe  that  thou  hast  pardoned  them, 
for  my  Saviour's  sake.  Then,  0  God,  open  Thou  my 
lips,  that  my  mouth  may  shew  forth  Thy  praise.  The 
greatest  desire  of  my  heart  is,  that  Thou  wouldst  per- 
mit me  to  speak  before  men  to  Thy  honour  and  glory. 
Yea,  0  Lord,  let  me  glorify  Thee,  both  in  my  body 
and  in  my  spirit,  which  are  Thine.  Am  I  Thine? 
Wilt  Thou  have  me,  unworthy  me,  for  Thy  servant? 
Oh,  what  an  honour  dost  Thou  confer  on  me,  to  be 
a  servant  of  that  great  and  glorious  God  who  dwell- 
eth  in  eternity,  whose  name  is  '  Jehovah ' !  Oh,  teach 
me  to  value  this  aright !  Put  Thy  grace  and  strength 
into  my  heart,  and  grant  me  a  most  abundant  measure 
of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  I  may  confess  Thee  before  all 
men,  and  not  be  ashamed." 


ONWAED  AND  UPWARD.  33 

****** 

"  October  27th. — For  how  much  have  I  to  be  thank- 
ful to  my  gracious  God  !  Truly  He  has  watched  over 
me  for  good,  and  raised  up  dear  kind  Mr  Molony 
to  be  my  guardian,  when  I  was  most  in  need  of  his 
wise  and  kind  care.  And  has  he  not  been  a  goof* 
and  kind  guardian  to  me?  Yes,  truly — the  best 
kindest,  and  most  judicious  friend.  And  my  mouth 
shall  praise  Thee,  0  my  God,  for  this  gift,  with 
joyful  lips ;  and  may  I  set  forth  Thy  praise  with  my 
life  also ! 

"  October  28th. — "Went  to  a  quiet  little  party  at  Mrs 

C 's,  where  we  were  silly  enough  to  play  small 

plays ;  but  we  enjoyed  ourselves  immensely,  laughing 
very  heartily,  and  returned  home  at  about  half-past 
eleven  o'clock. 

"  I  took  a  long  walk  to  Monastereven  to-day,  and 
enjoyed  some  very  sweet  .communion  with  my  God ; 
for  which  I  give  Him  thanks  and  praise.  Oh,  what 
honour  Thou  didst  confer  upon  me  this  day,  good 
Lord,  in  permitting  me  to  see  so  much  of  Thy  wonder- 
ful love  towards  mankind,  in  giving  up  Thine  only 
Son  to  die  that  we  might  live,  the  just  for  the  unjust, 
that  He  might  bring  us  to  God ! 

****** 

"  October  29th. — How  hard  it  is  to  strive  between 
the  world  and  your  conscience !  '  Ye  CANNOT  serve 
God  and  mammon.'  Oh,  my  gracious  God,  let  me  not 


34  ONWAED  AND  UPWAED. 

halt  between  two  opinions!  Let  me  take  up  my  cross 
daily  to  follow  Thee,  and  joyfully  fight  under  Christ's 
banner  against  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil !" 

"  October  31s£. — This  day  I  partook  of  that  blessed 
sacrament  of  which  Christ  Himself  hath  said,  '  Do  this 
in  remembrance  of  me.' 

"  Oh,  let  me  never  forget,  gracious  Saviour,  that  I 
have  given  up  myself  to  Thee,  to  be  Thy  zealous  and 
devoted  follower  here  on  earth ;  and  I  trust,  through 
Thy  merits,  also  to  be  a  partaker  of  those  joys  which 
are  at  Thy  right  hand  for  evermore.  May  I  never 
disgrace  Thee  or  that  blessed  cause  in  which  I  have 
embarked ;  but  be  so  endued  with  grace  and  power 
from  on  high,  that  I  may  stand  out  boldly  for  the 
cause  of  truth,  and  not  be  afraid  of,  or  be  put  to 
silence  by,  the  scorn  of  a  frowning  world  ! 

"  November  1st,  Monday. — Went  out  shooting  this 
morning,  with  Trevor  Hamilton,  on  Derryleague  bog. 
This  evening  we  went  to  a  quadrille  party,  and  returned 
home  at  a  reasonable  hour.  It  will  not  do  for  me 
to  go  to  all  these  parties.  And  as,  if  I  go  to  one,  I 
must  go  to  all,  I  must  give  up  going  to  any.  0  my 
God,  why  halt  I  between  two  opinions  ?  Let  me  choose 
to  follow  Thee,  despite  all  the  assaults  of  my  adversary 
the  devil !  I  find,  by  sad  experience,  that  he  always 
attacks  me  on  my  weakest  side ;  and,  grieved  I  am  to 
say,  he  too  often  succeeds.  Oh,  strengthen  me  by  Thy 
might  in  the  inner  man." 


ONWARD  AND  UPWARD.  35 

****** 

"  November  6th. — Good  and  merciful  Lord  God, 
I  bless  Thy  holy  name  for  permitting  me  daily  to 
have  such  an  opportunity  of  intercourse  with  Thee 
as  Thou  didst  graciously  afford  by  making  me  to  keep 
this  journal.  Oh,  bring  me  close  to  Thee,  day  by  day  ; 
and  let  me  hold  sweet  communion  with  my  own 
gracious  Saviour,  Redeemer,  Shepherd,  and  Friend, 
daily — nay,  hourly — by  faith.  Oh,  let  me  rejoice  in 
Thee.  Shew  me  more  of  the  vanity  and  folly  of  this 
perishing  world,  that  I  may  gradually  and  effectually 
be  weaned  from  placing  either  my  hopes  or  my  hap- 
piness upon  it.  No ;  I  will  have  my  all  in  Thee — 
all  my  affections,  all  my  wishes,  all  my  hopes,  centred 
in  Thee,  and  in  Thee  alone  ! " 

"  November  8th. — Began  the  day  very  badly,  by  get- 
ting up  late.  Pardon  my  sinful  idleness,  0  God,  for 
my  Saviour's  sake,  and  put  away  all  my  transgressions 

"  Went  out  shooting  in  the  afternoon.  In  the  even- 
ing wrote  a  letter  to  Garden,  and  read  '  Church  in  the 
Army.'  Oh,  how  wicked  is  my  heart  still !  The  old 
man  still  clings  to  me  with  fearful  tenacity.  Come, 
then,  gracious  Holy  Spirit,  into  my  heart,  and  enable 
me  to  give  it  up  wholly  to  God,  for  Satan  still  struggles 
for  possession.  Yes,  Lord,  I  feel  him  now.  Oh,  make 
him  let  go  his  grasp  !  Keep  me  close  under  the  shadow 
of  Thy  wing,  for  there  and  there  only  shall  I  be  secuiv. 
from  his  murderous  darts. 


36  ONWAED  AND  UPWAED. 

'  0  Holy  Saviour,  friend  unseen, 
Since  on  Thine  arm  Thou  bidst  me  lean, 
Help  me,  throughout  life's  varying  scene, 
By  faith  to  cling  to  Thee. 

'Blest  with  this  fellowship  divine, 
Take  what  Thou  wilt,  I  all  resign ; 
While  as  the  branches  to  the  vine, 
Saviour,  I  cling  to  Thee. 

An  exile  now,  fatigued,  opprest, 
E'en  here  I  find  a  place  of  rest, 
A  captive  still,  but  not  unblest, 

While  I  can  cling  to  Thee. 

'  Blest  be  my  lot,  whate'er  befall, 
Who  can  affright,  or  who  appal  ? 
While  as  my  God,  my  Hock,  my  All, 
Saviour,  I  cling  to  Thee.'  " 

In  alluding  to  a  painful  conversation  with  an  aged 
relative,  who  was  at  that  time  opposed  to  the  dearest 
earthly  wish  of  his  heart,  he  writes  : — 

"  She  is  nervous  and  easily  excited.  But  she  is  a 
dear,  and  most  kind  creature,  and  I  am  very  fond  of 
her;  I  must  endeavour  to  be  more  cautious  how  I 
speak  on  certain  topics  to  her,  as  it  is  very  easy  to 
hurt  her  feelings." 

"  November  1 3£ h. — This  evening,  went  to  dine  at  Mr 

's,  and  enjoyed  the  evening  very  much  indeed ; 

because  they  were  all  so  kind  and  agreeable,  and 
also  because  we  spent  our  time  in  quiet,  rational  con- 
versation, like  creatures  endowed  with  understanding, 
which  certainly  is  much  better  than  dancing  and  skip- 


ONWARD  AND  UPWAED.  37 

ping  about,  as  is  generally  the  way  at  parties.  I  met 
a  man  there  who  appeared  to  me  to  be  extremely  con- 
ceited. How  completely  conceit  veils  all  the  good 
qualities  a  person  may  possess,  and  makes  a  man  al- 
most unbearable.  Oh,  may  I  never  become  conceited  ! 
And  what  have  I  got  to  be  conceited  about  ?  Nothing ; 
and  less  than  nothing,  for  I  am  a  grievous  sinner,  who 
cannot  fulfil  the  law  of  God  for  a  single  day.  Then 
away  with  conceit,  away  with  pride,  which  is  intoler- 
able, and  let  me  walk  humbly  with  my  God ! " 

Towards  the  close  of  November,  1847,  Arthur  Van- 
deleur  joined  the  regiment,  at  the  Royal  Artillery 
Barracks,  Woolwich  Common.  He  entered  upon  his 
life  as  a  soldier,  with  an  earnest  desire  thoroughly  to 
fulfil  the  duties  of  a  profession  to  which  he  was,  from 
first  to  last,  ardently  attached ;  and  with  fervent  prayers 
that  he  might  be  enabled  to  witness  a  good  confession 
for  his  Divine  Lord  and  Master ;  and  to  glorify  Him 
in  his  daily  life.  This  is  expressed  in  the  first  entry  of 
his  journal,  on  his  return  to  Woolwich,  as  a  commis- 
sioned officer : — 

"Monday,  November  29th,  1847. — So  here  I  am, 
through  the  mercy  of  my  good  God,  comfortably  settled  in 
my  quarters  in  the  Royal  Artillery  Barracks.  0  my  God, 
open  Thou  my  lips,  that  my  mouth  may  shew  forth  Thy 
praise.  Lord,  I  am  Thy  servant ;  let  me  rejoice  that 


38  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

Thou  hast  taken  me  into  Thy  service.  My  humble 
prayer  to  Thee  is,  that  Thou  wouldst  give  me  strength 
of  mind  and  courage  in  an  abundant  measure ;  that 
Thy  Holy  Spirit  may  enable  me  to  resist,  without 
flinching,  the  laughing  scoff  of  an  ungodly  world.  Yea, 
Lord,  why  should  1  be  ashamed  to  own  that  Thou  hast 
chosen  me ;  that  I  am  an  adopted  son  of  that  great 
and  glorious  God  who  inhabiteth  eternity.  Oh,  teach 
me  to  rejoice,  and  to  bless  Thee  for  having  made 
me  'an  heir  of  God,  and  a  joint-heir  with  Christ.' 
What  infinite  love  and  condescension  !  Oh,  for  ever 
will  I  praise  and  magnify  Thy  holy  name,  which  alone 
is  worthy  to  be  praised  and  had  in  honour  !  To  Thee 
will  I  give  glory,  both  here  and  throughout  the  endless 
ages  hereafter." 

And  on  the  first  Sabbath  following  this  new  era  in 
his  life,  we  find  him  writing,  "Gracious  and  Holy 
Spirit,  come  with  power  to  my  soul,  and  warm  it  with 
love  to  my  dear,  my  own  Saviour.  Oh,  shew  to  my 
heart  His  gracious  image,  that  I  may  love  Him  with  an 
intense  affection ! " 

That  these  holy  aspirations  received  an  abundant 
answer,  we  are  assured  by  the  testimony  of  those  who 
knew  him  best  at  that  time. 

Whilst  taking  an  eager  interest  in  acquiring  the 
knowledge  requisite  for  distinguishing  himself  in  the 
noble  branch  of  the  service,  to  which  he  belonged ;  and, 


ONWABD  AND  UPWARD.  39 

at  the  same  time,  entering  with  light-hearted  gaiety 
into  many  of  the  amusements  and  interests  of  his  brother 
officers,  he  still  diligently  persevered  in  keeping  and 
recording,  a  daily  watch  over  his  thoughts,  words,  and 
conduct,  "as  one  who  must  give  account."  This  will 
be  seen  in  the  extracts  which  follow  : — 

"Monday,  December  6th. — Broken  off  drill  to-day 
by  Colonel  Cruttendon,  having  just  been  a  fortnight  at 
it.  Been  employed  writing  out  the  local  standing  orders 
all  the  evening  since  mess. 

"  For  how  much  quietness  and  comfort  in  my  new 
profession  have  I  to  be  thankful !  Yes,  truly,  my  God 
has  been  very  merciful  to  me.  He  has  upheld  me 
through  all  the  slippery  paths  that  I  have  walked  in, 
and  well  may  I  say  with  David,  '  When  my  foot  slipped, 
Thy  mercy,  0  Lord,  held  me  up.'  " 

"  Wednesday,  December  15th. — Played  seventeen 
games  of  racket  to-day,  and  worked  myself  very  hard. 
Went  in  the  evening  to  De  Havilland's  room,  and  met 
there  Bruce,  who  is  a  great  friend  of  mine,  and  whom 
I  like  very  much.  He  fears  and  loves  Thee,  0  God,  as 
far  as  my  shortsightedness  can  see.  I  beseech  Thee, 
gracious  Lord  God,  to  give  him  a  much  more  abundant 
measure  of  Thy  grace  and  Holy  Spirit,  to  make  him 
fear  and  love  Thee  much  more  than  he  now  does. 
May  he  be  a  burning  and  a  shining  light  in  Thy  true 
Church!" 


40  ONWAED  AND  UPWAED. 

At  this  time,  Arthur  had  not  only  the  privilege  of 
hearing  the  gospel  of  Christ  clearly  preached  in  the 
Barrack  chapel;  but  also  he  deeply  enjoyed  attending 
the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Capel  Molyneux,  then  In- 
cumbent of  an  Episcopal  chapel  at  Woolwich.  Mr 
Molyneux's  gifts  of  eloquence  and  powerful  reason- 
ing were  peculiarly  calculated  to  fascinate  a  mind  at 
once  so  impressionable  and  so  logical  as  Arthur  Van- 
deleur's  :  whilst  his  faith  was  nourished  and  strength- 
ened by  the  grand  yet  simple  Truth  which  the  preacher 
taught,  of  a  free  pardon  offered  by  a  holy  GOD  to  sin- 
ful man,  through  the  atoning  death  of  His  Son ;  "  one 
Sacrifice  for  sins  for  ever," 

Several  extracts  from  Mr  Molyneux's  sermons  appear 
in  Arthur's  journal.  They  are  chiefly  marked  by  a 
practical  character,  and  were  evidently  applied  by  his 
honest  heart  to  his  daily  life  and  conversation.  The 
following  is  given  as  a  specimen : — 

"Sunday,  January  2nd,  1848. — Heard  this  evening, 
from  Mr  Molyneux,  a  most  beautiful  sermon.  His 
text  was,  '  Giving  all  diligence,  add  to  your  faith/  (2 
Peter  i.  5.)  He  shewed  us  the  value  of  time;  and  how 
we  ought  to  give  all  diligence  to  redeem  even  those 
two  or  three  minutes  which  we  continually  waste ;  and 
how  much  good  might  thereby  be  effected.  He  also 
shewed  us  how  sinful  we  are,  (and  I  feel  it  to  be  most 
true  as  regards  myself,)  in  giving  our  worldly  concerns 


ONWAED  AND  UPWARD.  41 

the  preference  above  the  time  given  to  our  God :  how, 
in  the  morning,  if  we  get  up  rather  late,  we  slur  over 
our  prayers,  and  perhaps  hurry  through  a  chapter  in 
the  Bible,  in  order  to  get  to  our  worldly  business  in 
good  time ;  and  in  the  evening,  if  we  feel  drowsy, 
how  we  again  slur  them  over,  in  order  that  we  may 
get  to  sleep.  Now,  0  Lord  God,  I  beseech  Thee  not 
to  let  this  be  my  case  any  more,  but  enable  me  to  re- 
deem my  spare  moments  to  read  Thy  holy  Word  with 
reverence  and  devotion;  and  to  meditate  practically 
thereon,  and  also  to  pray  to  Thee  with  that  earnestness 
and  sincerity  which  Thou  by  Thy  Holy  Spirit  canst 
alone  enable  me  to  do." 

"  Wednesday,  January  5th,  1848. — Played  a  good 
deal  at  rackets  to-day,  and  two  games  of  chess  with 
De  Havilland.  In  the  evening,  went,  very  much  against 

my  inclination,  to  play  a  game  of  billiards  with  B 

and  A ,  and  lost  my  temper  in  a  great  measure, 

which,  besides  making  me  the  laughing-stock  of  my 
companions,  was  very  wrong  in  the  sight  of  that  great 
God  whose  eyes  are  always  upon  me,  and  who  sees  into 
the  most  inmost  recesses  of  my  heart.  B after- 
wards asked  pardon  of  me ;  and  when  I  was  coming- 
over  to  my  room,  asked  me  to  read  a  little  prayer  on 
meekness  of  temper.  0  God  Almighty,  pardon  my 
sin  this  night.  Against  Thee  have  I  sinned,  and  done 
this  evil  in  Thy  sight.  Oh,  pardon  me,  I  beseech  Thee, 
for  the  sake  of  Thy  dear  Son.  Oh,  intercede  for  me, 


42  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

blessed  Saviour !  Thou  wast  tempted  like  as  I  have 
been,  and  yet  Thou  wast  without  &in.  Thou  knowest 
all  my  infirmities,  and  the  ignorance  of  my  heart ;  and 
still  Thou  lovest  me.  May  I  ever  return  Thy  love.  En- 
able me  to  put  a  guard  over  my  temper ;  and  to  watch, 
and  steadfastly  to  strive  against,  all  occasions  of  evil." 

"  January  1 2th. — Went  twice  to  the  gymnasium  to- 
day, to  learn  the  sword-exercise  and  fencing,  also  the 
riding-school  and  battalion  duty.  Went  round  the 
coffees  at  five  o'clock.  Got  a  newspaper  from  Ireland, 
and  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  evening  in  reading 
it ;  particularly  interested  in  a  letter  of  the  Duke's  on 
the  National  Defences.  On  guard  in  the  arsenal  with 

Captain  G ;  had  severe  cold  and  headache  all  day  ; 

visited  the  boring  department  in  the  arsenal,  and  in- 
spected the  enlarging  of  the  bore  of  brass  guns." 

"January  18th. — Came  up  from  guard  at  twelve 
o'clock  Played  a  game  of  billiards  with  Dickson  for 
an  hour.  Afterwards  went  to  the  gymnasium,  and  re- 
mained practising  fencing  and  gymnastics  till  time  to 
dress  for  mess  ;  after  mess,  very  tired  and  sleepy,  which 
occasioned  me  to  lose  the  whole  evening. 

"Oh  my  dear  Saviour,  do  not  I  owe  Thee  the  best  part 
of  my  time,  and  yet  how  little  do  I  give  Thee  !  Does 
not  Thy  great  love  towards  me,  which  Thou  dost  mani- 
fest every  day,  shew  me  that  I  ought  to  live  for  Thy 
glory,  and  for  it  alone ;  and  yet  how  far  is  this  from 
being  the  case  !  Oh,  pardon  me,  my  beloved  Saviour  I 


ONWAKD  AND  UPWARD.  43 

Do  put  into  my  Leart  a  greater  desire  for  Thy  glory ; 
and  enable  me  to  give  up  much  more  of  my  time 
to  Thy  service,  and  to  studying  Thy  blessed  "Word. 
Oh,  put  into  my  heart  a  steadfast  resolution  so  to  do, 
and  I  shall  sing  of  Thy  mercies  and  of  Thy  love  for 
ever  and  ever." 

"January   2lst. — My  nineteenth    birthday 

Oh,  my  God,  Thou  who  hast  brought  me  to  the  com- 
mencement of  a  new  year  in  my  life ;  Thou  who  hast 
kept  me  in  health  and  safety  during  that  which  is 
past ;  let  Thy  Fatherly  care  watch  over  me  during  the 
year  which  I  am  now  commencing ;  so  that  if  it  be 
Thy  holy  will  I  should  see  the  close  of  it,  grant  that 
it  may  find  me  far  advanced  on  the  road  to  heaven. 
Come,  come,  Holy  Spirit,  and  aid  me  by  Thy  mighty 
power  in  all  my  efforts  to  lead  a  more  holy  and  con- 
sistent life.  How  much  is  there  to  be  corrected,  how 
much  to  be  struggled  with,  how  much  to  be  over- 
come !  I  need  an  entirely  new  heart ;  for  mine  is 
so  utterly  vile,  so  ready  to  do  all  that  Satan  wishes ; 
so  full  of  sin,  of  cowardice,  and  of  foolishness,  that  I 
cannot  keep  it  any  longer.  I  will  have  a  new  one : 
give  it  to  me  at  once,  0  God ; — a  heart  that  will  love 
Thee  supremely, 

'  A  heart  resign'd,  submissive,  meek, 

My  dear  Redeemer's  throne, 
Where  only  Christ  is  heard  to  speak, 
Where  Jesus  reigns  alone.' 


44  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

Yes,  that  is  the  heart  I  will  have  ;  give  it  to  me,  give 
it  to  me,  0  God,  for  the  sake  of  Thy  dear  Son,  Jesus 
Christ ;  for  hast  Thou  not  said,  '  A  new  heart  will  I 
give  you,'  and  '  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive.'  " 

"Sunday,  January  30th. — This  afternoon  I  finished 
reading  '  Mason  on  Self-Knowledge.'  I  find  it  a  very 
profitable  book ;  for  it  has  opened  to  me  quite  a  new 
way  of  examining  my  own  heart :  and  may  my  be- 
loved Saviour,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  grant  that  I  may 
be  enabled  to  search  into  my  vile  heart,  and  to  root 
out  all  that  wickedness  which  lies  so  strongly  embedded 
at  the  bottom  of  it.  Spent  the  early  part  of  the  evening 
very  unprofitably,  by  sleeping  when  I  might  have  been 
reading  and  meditating  on  Thy  Holy  Word.  Pardon, 
pardon,  0  Almighty  Father,  my  many  sins  and  in- 
firmities, and  give  me  moral  courage  and  determina- 
tion that,  when  I  know  a  thing  to  be  right,  I  may 
accomplish  it,  and  not  allow  Satan  to  triumph  over  me 
in  any  way." 

"February  ]st. — Finished  reading  the  history  of 
the  Seven  Years'  War  in  Germany ;  by  which  I  have  ac- 
quired some  knowledge  of  the  relations  of  the  several 
powers  of  Europe  to  each  other  towards  the  close  of  the 
last  century. 

"February  2nd. — Before  I  left  the  arsenal  to-day  I 
visited  the  foundry  and  boring  departments,  and  in- 
spected the  method  of  getting  the  correct  curve  for  the 
swell  of  the  muzzle  of  a  brass  gun." 


ONWARD  AND  UPWAED.  45 

In  the  course  of  this  journal  we  find  occasional  allu- 
sions to  the  billiard-table,  which  Arthur  was  beginning 
to  find  an  unprofitable  amusement ;  but  it  was  not 
until  after  many  struggles,  and  much  prayer  for  grace 
and  strength,  that  he  was  enabled  entirely  to  give  it  up. 

"February  4ith. — Went  to  the  billiard-room,  and 
very  foolishly  played  a  game  of  pool,  whereby  I  lost  a 
good  deal  of  money.  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  wisely 
ordered,  that  I  might  not  get  fond  of  the  game.  Oh, 
have  I  not  had  a  lesson  to  prevent  me  from  getting 
into  the  habit  of  gambling.  Save  me  from  it.  Save 
me  from  it,  0  my  God. 

"  5th. — I  went  to  the  billiard-room  again,  and  played 
a  game  of  pool  with  some  of  the  best  players  in  the 
garrison,  and  won  some  money.  I  have  fully  deter- 
m  ined  in  my  own  mind  I  will  not  play  any  more  pool, 
as  I  feel  that  it  excites  me  too  much,  and  may  God,  by 
the  help  of  His  Holy  Spirit,  enable  me  to  keep  this 
resolution  sacredly.  I  cannot  do  it  of  myself,  for  I  am 
a  poor,  weak  creature,  and  Satan  knows  that  if  I  trust 
in  my  own  resolution,  I  shall  assuredly  fall  into  his 
clutches.  But  I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  who 
strengthened  me.  0  gracious  Saviour,  save  and  de- 
fend me  from  my  dreadful  adversary.  Let  me  lean  on 
Thy  arm :  let  me  cling  closer  to  Thee  day  by  day. 
Grant  that  I  may  wish  to  associate  with  those  who 
love  Thee  in  sincerity  and  truth,  that  I  may  learn  to 


46  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

know  myself  better,  and  by  talking  and  thinking  more 
of  Thee,  may  grow  daily  in  grace,  and  in  Thy  know- 
ledge and  love. 

"Sunday,  Qth. —  ....  Went  to  Mr  Molyneux's 
ehurch  in  the  evening,  and  heard  a  good  sermon, 
though  I  was  unable  duly  to  appreciate  it,  as  I  felt 
very  sleepy.  I  struggled  hard  against  it,  but  I  lost 
several  sentences.  This  is  because  I  allow  myself  to 
go  to  sleep  after  mess  every  evening,  which  I  must  for 
the  future  try  to  prevent." 

"  Sunday,  I3th. — Bruce,  Dickson,  and  De  Havilland, 
dined  in  my  room,  and  we  went  in  the  evening  to  Mr 
Molyneux's,  and  heard  a  most  excellent  sermon.  The 
text  was  Ezek.  xv.  2,  which  verse  he  compared  with 
John  xv.,  and  contrasted  the  two  as  representing  true 
and  nominal  believers,  and  carried  out  the  parallel  to 
shew  the  utter  waste  and  misery  of  that  represented 
by  Ezekiel,  and  the  worth  and  beauty  of  the  other  de- 
scribed by  St  John.  0  heavenly  Father,  of  Thine 
infinite  mercy  grant  that  my  case  may  be  represented 
by  St  John ;  that  I  be  not  found  a  dead  and  worthless 
branch,  only  fit  to  be  cast  into  everlasting  fire.  Oh, 
no,  my  beloved  Saviour !  graft  me  firmly,  truly,  and 
for  ever  into  Thyself,  that  I  may  be  a  living  branch, 
depending  solely  upon  Thee  for  life  and  support,  and 
living  closer  to  Thee  day  by  day,  that  when  Thou 
comest  clothed  in  Thine  awful  majesty,  I  may  be  found, 
not  having  my  own  righteousness,  which  is  but  filthy 


ONWARD  AND  UPWARD.  47 

rags,  but  having  the  righteousness  of  God  by  faith  in 
Thee. 

'•  14-th. — In  the  evening  went  to 's  room  to  play 

a  game  of  chess.  A  game  of  cards  was  proposed, 
about  which  (though  I  did  not  join  in  it  myself)  I 
acted  very  wrongly,  in  not  endeavouring  with  all  my 
might  to  prevent  its  taking  place,  whereby  I  injured 

the  yet  tender  conscience  of  poor .     Pardon  me, 

O  God,  for  I  have  sinned  against  Thee.  Pardon  me 
for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  and  enable  me  to  watch  better 
my  deceitful  heart  for  the  future." 

"  22ncZ. — Bruce  breakfasted  with  me.     At  twelve      / 
o'clock  went  down  and  played  a  game  at  rackets,  and   . 
afterwards  went  to  the  gymnasium.     This  evening  I 
have  had  a  commune  with  my  own  heart  about  my 
life,  and  the  way  in  which  I  spend  my  time,  and  I      / 
have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  inconsistent/^- 
with  my  Christian  profession  to  frequent  the  billiard- 
room  :  therefore  it  must  bo  given  up,  for  what  saith 
the  Scripture :  '  Mortify  therefore  all  your  evil  and  cor- 
rupt affections.'     Strengthen  me  by  Thy  Holy  Spirit 
that  I  may  adhere  steadfastly  to  this  resolution  ;  come 
and  fill  my  whole  heart  with  love  to  Thee,  and  I  shall 
sing  of  and  praise  Thine  infinite  mercy  to  all  eternity. 

"  23rd — Played  some  games  of  rackets  with  Bruce, 
and  got  beaten,  which  put  my  temper  to  a  severe  test.  ^/ 
And  yet  why  should  I  care  for  these  trifling  things  ?    I 
want  more  of  Thy  grace,  holy  Saviour,  more  of  Thy 


48  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

Holy  Spirit  to  raise  my  thoughts  and  affections  above 
these  passing  things." 

"  26th. — Went  after  mess  to  the  Artillery  Institution, 
and  saw  various  instruments,  and  learned  the  method 
of  making  several  calculations  relative  to  the  weather. 
Read  part  of  the  life  of  Captain  Gordon  out  of  '  The 
Church  in  the  Army.'  The  comparison  ought  to 
humble  me  in  the  dust.  Still  the  old  man  of  sin 
cleaves  to  my  poor  soul,  and  makes  me  think  too 
much  of  the  things  of  the  world.  Oh,  gracious  Father, 
may  I  always  look  upon  them  and  the  pleasures  of 
sense,  as  things  which  perish  in  the  using ;  and  may 
I  ever  be  mindful  that  the  joys  of  the  world  to  come 
will  last  through  all  eternity.  Keep  this  continually 
before  my  eyes  ;  withdraw  my  affections  from  things 
temporal,  and  fix  them  entirely  on  Thyself.  Quicken 
my  faith,  pardon  my  lukewarmness,  and  strengthen  my 
courage,  that  I  may  be  able  to  look  every  one  in  the 
face,  feeling  a  consciousness  that  I  have  peace  with 
Thee,  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord.  Amen. 

"27th. —  0  God,  my  humble  prayer  to  Thee  is,  that 
Thou  wouldst  open  my  lips  that  my  mouth  may  shew 
forth  Thy  praise ;  that  Thou  wouldst  endue  me  with 
powers  of  persuasion  and  eloquence,  that  I  may  speak 
of  all  the  wondrous  things  that  Thou  hast  dene  for 
my  soul ;  that  I  may  not  blush  to  own  Thy  cause,  but 
rather  that  I  may  glory  in  it,  for  Christ  my  Saviour's 
sake.  Amen." 


ONWAED  AND  UPWARD.  49 

"March  1st. — Went  to  London  to-day  to  be  pre- 
sented to  Prince  Albert,  but  when  I  got  to  the  palace  I 
felt  very  unwell,  and  the  crowd  was  so  oppressive,  that 
I  was  obliged  to  come  away  without  being  presented. 
Came  back  to  Woolwich,  and  had  the  surgeon  to  see  me. 
It  is  an  attack  of  fever. 

"  2nd. — Heard  very  bad  news  indeed  of  poor  little 

,  that  he  had  forsaken  the  cause  of  Christ,  and 

had  put  Him  to  open  shame.  Oh,  have  mercy  on  him, 
gracious  God !  leave  him  not  to  the  dominion  of  Sa- 
tan. Thou  who  knowest  the  frailty  of  the  human  heart, 
look  not  upon  him  in  Thine  anger,  but  grant  him 
Thy  Holy  Spirit  and  of  Thy  infinite  mercy  bring 
him  back  to  Thy  fold.  May  it  be  a  warning  to  me  to 
keep  close  to  the  holy  Saviour ;  and  do  Thou  watch 
over  me  with  a  shepherd's  care,  and  let  me  never 
wander  from  Thy  side.  Give  me  more,  oh,  much 
more  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  to  enable  me  effectually  to 
resist  the  subtle  devices  of  Satan,  and  his  too  willing 
coadjutor  the  flesh.  For  Thine  own  sake.  Amen." 

"8th. — My  beloved  Saviour,  bring  me  into  closer 
communion  with  Thyself.  I  feel  my  many  infirmities, 
but  with  Thee  is  the  well-spring  of  life ;  oh,  give  me 
out  of  Thy  fulness.  Lord,  I  am  faint  for  want  of 
spiritual  food,  satisfy  the  cravings  of  my  hunger,  then 
shall  I  praise  Thee  with  joyful  lips." 

"2lst. — Went  out  riding  with  Oldershaw.  Visited 
the  Repository,  and  saw  the  method  of  raising  a  sea- 

D 


50  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

mortar  out  of  its  bed  by  means  of  a  pair  of  shears,  and 
of  working  guns  on  traversing  platforms." 

During  these  months  at  Woolwich,  Arthur  Vande- 
leur  gained  the  friendship  of  Colonel,  now  General 
Anderson  ;  for  which,  from  the  date  of  its  commence- 
ment until  the  day  of  his  death,  he  gave  thanks  to 
God.  In  this  friendship  there  was  an  element  of 
fatherly  love  and  wisdom,  which  proved  of  inestimable 
value,  not  to  Arthur  only,  but  also  to  many  other 
young  officers  under  Colonel  Anderson's  command, 
who  availed  themselves  of  his  frank  and  friendly  kind- 
ness. It  was  offered  to  all  who  were  within  his  reach ; 
and  to  how  many  that  Christian  and  fatherly  influ- 
ence has  been  made  the  means  of  the  beginning  of  a 
new  life,  or  of  the  stablishing,  strengthening,  and 
settling  of  that  life  already  begun,  will  never  be  known 
until  the  day  when  it  shall  be  revealed  how  much  of 
the  living  water  has  been  permitted  to  flow  through 
human  channels. 

The  atmosphere  of  genial  piety  in  Colonel  Ander- 
son's house  was  rendered  yet  more  delightful  to  these 
young  men,  by  the  ready  extension  of  a  true  motherly 
affection  and  regard,  and  a  kindness  which  never  set  a 
limit  to  itself,  on  the  part  of  Mrs  Anderson. 

Arthur  Vandeleur's  charming  manners  and  disposi- 
tion made  him,  from  the  first,  a  special  favourite  with 
these  valued  friends ;  whilst  his  orphaned  heart,  always 


ONWARD  AND  UPWARD.  51 

yearning  for  affection  peculiarly  rejoiced  in  the  home 
thus  thrown  open  to  him. 

With  reference  to  this  period,  General  Anderson 
writes : — 

"Arthur  Vandeleur  joined  the  field  batteries  of 
the  Royal  Artillery  under  my  command  as  a  subal- 
tern, and  was  an  entire  stranger  to  me;  but  I  was, 
from  the  first  of  my  intercourse  with  him,  struck  by 
his  manly  and  gentlemanlike  bearing,  and  polished 
and  refined  manners. 

"  I  soon  found  that  he  possessed  all  the  elements  of 
a  thorough  soldier.  He  evinced  the  greatest  possible 
zeal,  smartness,  and  activity  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty ;  and,  as  I  was  led  to  believe  that  he  was  in- 
fluenced by  Christian  principle,  although  not  fully 
developed,  I  felt  my  heart  all  the  more  drawn  out  to- 
wards him,  and  I  soon  formed  a  warm  affection  for  him." 

On  one  evening  in  the  week  it  was  Colonel  Ander- 
son's custom  to  open  his  house  to'  any  officers  who 
were  willing  to  partake  of  his  hospitality,  and  to  join 
in  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  in  prayer. 
At  these  meetings  Arthur's  bright  presence  was  ever 
warmly  welcomed.  And  we  find  in  his  journal  many 
notices  similar  to  the  following  of  the  profit  and  plea- 
sure he  derived  from  this  intercourse  : — 

"February  llth. — Went  to  Colonel  Anderson's  to 
breakfast.  I  like  and  value  him  very  much  indeed : 


52  ONWARD  AND  UPWAED. 

he  is  a  truly  Christian  man,  and  leads  a  most  ex- 
emplary life. 

"  J  2th.  —  Teach  me  to  recognise  and  trace  Thy 
Fatherly  hand,  0  my  God,  in  everything  that  occurs. 
I  see  this  particularly  in  the  friendship  which  I  have 
been  permitted  to  form  with  Colonel  Anderson.  Oh, 
may  his  example  and  precept  stimulate  me  by  Thy 
assisting  grace,  to  walk  more  consistently  in  my  pro- 
fession, and  to  serve  Thee  with  my  whole  heart.  En- 
able me  to  converse  and  commune  more  with  Thee 
both  in  public  and  in  private.  Let  me  delight  to  talk 
about  Thee ;  and,  whatever  I  do,  in  word  or  deed, 
may  I  do  all  to  Thy  glory,  for  my  Saviour's  sake. 
Amen/' 

"  15^. — After  mess,  went  to  Colonel  Anderson's,  and 
spent  a  most  pleasant  evening.  Glory  be  to  God  for 
permitting  me  to  join  in  prayer  and  praise  with  those 
who  really  love  Him.  We  read  Acts  x.,  and  conversed 
a  good  deal  over  it." 

Thus  did  the  watchful  care  of  his  God  and  Father 
provide  for  the  fostering  of  the  heavenly  flame,  so 
early  kindled  in  his  soul,  even  in  the  midst  of  those 
floods  of  temptation  incident  to  the  first  entrance 
upon  a  military  life.  But  the  faithful  ministry  of  the 
gospel,  and  the  holy  example  and  advice  of  Christian 
friends,  would  have  availed  him  little,  had  he  not,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  steadfastly  and  prayerfully  set  him- 


ONWARD  AXD  UPWARD.  53 

self  to  gain,  through  these  means,  all  the  spiritual 
blessing  which  they  were  intended  to  impart. 

With  Arthur  Vandeleur,  religion  was  not  a  mere 
occasional  emotion,  but  an  abiding  principle.  Nor 
was  it  a  subject  only  for  one  half-hour  in  a  day,  or 
one  day  in  a  week ;  but  rather  was  it  the  first  pursuit 
of  his  life  to  become  conformed,  as  far  as  he  perceived 
it,  to  the  will  of  his  God.  Although  he  had  not  yet 
attained  to  the  full  knowledge  that  the  peace  which 
passeth  all  understanding  was  so  left  by  the  Redeemer 
of  the  world,  as  to  be  claimed  by  all  who  believe  in 
Him,  as  their  immediate  and  abiding  portion  ;  still  he 
was  one  of  those  to  whom  the  promise  could  not  fail  to 
be  fulfilled :  "  Then  shall  they  know,  if  they  follow  on 
to  know  the  Lord/' 

And  whilst  he  had  not  yet  entered  upon  "  the  glori- 
ous liberty  of  the  children  of  God,"  he  was  doing  Battle 
manfully  against  the  enslaving  forces  of  sin  and  Satan. 
And  those  who  lovingly  watched  and  aided  his  pro- 
gress, foresaw  that  the  end  of  these  upward  strivings  of 
his  earnest  spirit,  in  God's  good  time  would  be,  the 
emerging  from  every  mist  into  the  bright  and  holy 
calm  of  a  conscious  fellowship  with  the  Father,  and 
with  His  Son  Jesus  Christ. 

Excepting  in  times  when  the  very  windows  of 
heaven  are  opened  for  the  pouring  out  of  blessings ; 
"  times  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord/' 
cases  of  sudden  conversion  have  been  comparatively 


54  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

rare.  The  more  frequent  manner  of  God's  dealing 
with  the  heart  of  man,  in  common  seasons,  seems  to 
correspond  with  its  type,  as  given  in  Holy  Writ,  of  the 
gradual  development  of  the  seed  which  has  been  sown 
in  the  earth  ;  in  taking  root,  then  springing  up — "  first 
the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that,  the  full  corn  in  the  ear." 

But  not  because  we  trace  in  the  lovely  life  of  Arthur 
Vandeleur,  the  rich  harvest  which  was  raised  by  the 
Divine  husbandman  through  rainy  days  and  stormy 
winds,  and  days  of  warm  sunshine  and  balmy  breezes, 
would  we  depreciate  the  glorious  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  a  sudden  and  abiding  conversion.  God  forbid 
we  should  limit  Him  to  our  slow  ideas  of  progress ;  or 
hinder  Him  from  "  doing  many  mighty  works  amongst 
us,  because  of  our  unbelief." 

In  the  sacred  story  of  the  early  days  of  a  triumphant 
gospel,  have  we  not  repeated  records  of  instantaneous 
conversions  ? 

Zaccheus,  the  chief  of  a  class  who  amassed  their 
fortunes  by  fraud  or  violence,  hears  the  voice  of  an 
unknown  Saviour  saying  to  him,  "  To-day  I  must 
abide  at  thy  house."  He  makes  haste,  and  receives 
Him  joyfully ;  and  is  transformed  into  a  just  and  a 
generous  man,  by  that  ennobling  Presence.  "  Behold, 
Lord," — behold  what  Thou  hast  wrought  in  one  brief 
hour — "  the  half  of  my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor  :  and  if 
I  have  taken  anything  from  any  man  by  false  accusa- 
tion, I  restore  him  fourfold." 


ONWARD  AND  UPWARD.  55 

A  sinful  woman  of  Samaria  hears  the  Divine  voice 
of  a  wearied  Stranger,  resting  on  a  well,  saying,  "  If 
thou  wouldst  have  asked,  He  would  have  given  thee 
living  water."  "  Whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water  that 
I  shall  give  him,  shall  never  thirst ;  but  the  water  that 
I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of  water,  spring- 
ing up  into  everlasting  life ; "  and  from  the  draught  of 
that  pure  water  given  her  in  her  communing  with  a 
holy  Saviour,  the  unholy  one  goes  forth,  with  purity 
and  peace  in  her  bosom,  to  become  a  preacher  of  Jesus 
to  her  fellow-sinners.  "  COME,  SEE  A  MAN  who  told 
me  all  things  that  ever  I  did ; — is  NOT  THIS  THE 
CHRIST  ?  And  many  believed  on  Him  for  the  saying 
of  the  woman." 

A  Saul  of  Tarsus  goes  forth  from  Jerusalem  to 
Damascus,  "  exceeding  mad  against  the  faith ;  " 
"  breathing  out  threatenings  and  slaughter  against  the 
disciples  of  the  Lord ; "  and  suddenly,  at  mid-day,  there 
shines  about  him  a  light  from  heaven,  above  the 
brightness  of  the  sun ;  and  as  he  falls  to  the  earth,  he 
hears  the  voice  of  Him  who  saith  to  His  people,  "Whoso 
toucheth  you,  toucheth  the  apple  of  mine  eye,"  asking 
"  0  thou  sought  out,  0  thou  sought  out,*  why  perse- 
cutest  thou  Me  ? "  And  meekly,  out  of  the  depths  of 
a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  Saul  replies,  in  words 
which  condense  into  their  brief  compass  the  fealty 

*  English  rendering  of  the  name  of  "  Saul." 


56  ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

of  the  servant  with  the  duty  of  the  son,  "  Lord,  what 
wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do?" 

Ananias  is  sent  at  once,  to  call  the  great  persecutor 
of  the  day  a  "  brother ; "  for  he  is  a  chosen  vessel 
unto  the  Lord,  to  suffer,  in  his  turn,  great  things  for 
His  name's  sake  ;  and  to  bear  His  name  before  the 
Gentiles,  and  kings,  and  the  children  of  Israel. — And 
he  is  to  be  sent  unto  them  "  NOW ; "  "  to  open  their 
eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and 
from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God." 

Three  thousand  men,  whose  hands  were  red  with  the 
blood  of  the  innocent  Lamb  of  God — three  thousand 
of  those  from  whose  crime  the  very  sun  had  turned 
away,  shutting  out  its  glories  from  a  world  which  had 
consented  to  the  murder  of  its  anointed  King — were 
pricked  to  the  heart  at  one  moment  under  the  preach- 
ing of  Peter ;  and  they,  too,  at  once  received  remission 
of  sins  and  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  with  their  open 
confession  of  faith  in  a  crucified  Saviour,  and  the 
outward  seal  of  the  covenant. 

"And  they  continued  steadfastly  in  the  apostles' 
doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in  breaking  of  bread,  and 
in  prayers." 


CHAPTER  V. 

tnu    i 


"  Promptness  to  aid  in  one  another's  needs, 
With  self-denial,  yea,  heroic  acts, 
The  more  heroic,  as  not  knowing  themselves 
For  such  at  all." 


IN  the  autumn  of  the  year  1848,  Arthur  Vandeleur 
was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant ;  *  and  was  posted 
to  a  company  in  Jamaica. 

Unfortunately  no  letters  written  by  him  at  this  time 
have  been  preserved ;  but  one  who  well  remembers 
having  read  many  which  he  then  wrote  to  her  father 
and  brothers,  recalls,  with  no  slight  regret  for  their 
loss,  their  manly  and  spirited  tone,  and  vivid  descrip- 
tions of  the  beautiful  scenery  of  the  island,  with  the 
tropical  brilliancy  of  its  colouring,  and  of  its  gorgeous 
birds  and  flowers.  He  had  purchased  a  pleasure-boat 
at  this  time,  and  greatly  delighted  in  sailing  expedi- 
tions with  his  brother  officers  at  Port-Royal.  Their 
favourite  amusement  was  the  pursuit  of  the  devil-fish  ; 
and  many  an  exciting  race  out  to  sea  they  had  after 
these  creatures.  At  this  period  of  his  life,  Arthur's 
daring  was  scarcely  tempered  by  "  the  better  part  of 
valour;"  and  he  not  unfrequently  found  himself  in 
considerable  danger  in  the  midst  of  sudden  squalls  on 

*  At  that  time,  there  were  first  and  second  lieutenants  in  tbe 
Royal  Artillery. 


CO  TEUE  HEKOISM. 

the  somewhat  impracticable  coast  of  the  island.  But 
his  frequent  escapes  from  perilous  adventures  rather 
added  to  the  charm  of  putting  to  sea  again  for 
fresh  chases  in  doubtful  weather,  unstated  to  his  frail 
Kttle  yacht,  and  his  exulting  spirits  ever  rose  with  the 
breezes,  and  the  tossing  of  the  sea. 

This  little  yacht  of  his  was  destined  to  a  noble  pur- 
pose before  he  left  the  island,  as  we  find  recorded  in  a 
letter  from  General  Armstrong,  K.A.,  to  General  An- 
derson. Whilst  Arthur  Vandeleur  was  under  Colonel 
Armstrong's  command  in  Jamaica,  in  the  month  of 
October,  1850,  Asiatic  cholera  suddenly  broke  out  in 
the  garrison,  and  seventeen  persons  died  of  it  in  the 
course  of  a  few  hours.  Immediate  burial  was  necessary 
to  save  the  rest  of  the  garrison.  The  burial-place  was 
a  considerable  distance  off,  along  the  coast,  and  the 
land-way  to  it  lay  through  very  deep  sand.  In  conse- 
quence of  this,  funeral-parties  always  went  thither  by 
water ;  but  at  this  time  the  panic  was  so  great,  that 
no  boats  could  be  procured  at  any  price  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conveying  the  bodies  of  those  who  had  died 
of  cholera.  In  this  emergency,  Arthur  Vandeleur  came 
forward  at  once  with  the  offer  of  his  pleasure-boat; 
and,  with  the  aid  of  one  man,  who  volunteered  his 
assistance,  he  carried  the  dead  on  board,  and  conveyed 
them  to  their  last  earthly  resting-place. 

We  learn  from  General  Armstrong's  letter  that,  but 
for  this  heroic  effort,  they  must  have  remained  uji- 


TRUE  HEKOISM.  61 

buried,  and  that  terribly  fatal  might  have  been  the  con- 
sequences to  the  remainder  of  the  garrison.  Shortly 
afterwards,  Arthur  was  himself  seized  with  cholera, 
and  was  brought  down  to  the  very  gate  of  death.  But, 
by  God's  blessing  on  the  remedies  applied  by  loving 
hands — for  he  was  nursed  by  his  servant  with  devoted 
attachment — he  was  spared  for  ten  years  more  of  use- 
fulness in  his  Master's  service,  and  of  making  happy, 
with  no  common  happiness,  those  who  were  privileged 
to  enjoy  intimate  intercourse  with  him. 

One  of  the  married  soldiers  and  his  wife  died  in  one 
day,  of  this  visitation  of  cholera.  And  the  wife's  sister 
still  tells  with  overflowing  gratitude  how  Mr  Vandeleur 
cared  for  them  in  their  short  illness ;  and  that,  when 
they  were  dead,  he  took  their  little  orphaned  babe,  and 
kept  it,  and  fed  it,  until  he  had  found  a  trusty  nurse, 
whom  he  engaged  to  take  care  of  it ;  nor  even  then 
ceased  to  watch  over  his  little  charge.  "Oh,"  said 
the  poor  woman,  as  she  told  the  story,  "he  was  a 
loving-hearted  gentleman !  You  should  hear  the 
black  people  talk  of  him,  and  of  all  his  goodness  to 
them!" 

Whilst  he  was  in  Jamaica,  he  obtained  the  valuable 
friendship  of  the  Rev.  V.  J.  P.  Donet,  Rector  of  St 
Elizabeth's,  Annetto  Bay ;  for  whom,  as  well  as  for 
Mrs  Donet,  he  ever  retained  a  grateful  and  affectionate 
regard. 

His  bright  cheerfulness  and  ready  good  nature  made 


62  TRUE  HEROISM. 

him  a  great  favourite  with  the  children  at  the  Eectory, 
and  two  of  them  used  to  write  to  him  occasionally 
after  his  return  to  England. 

Mr  Donet  thus  speaks  of  the  period  of  his  acquaint- 
ance with  him: — 

" .  .  .  .  Mrs  Donet  and  myself  formed  a  very  great 
attachment  for  him,  as  he  completely  became  one  of 
us  during  his  sojourn  of  six  weeks  in  our  family.  .  .  . 
We  first  met  him  at  Port-Royal,  at  the  house  of  my 
brother-in-law,  Mr  Hale,  the  late  Rector,  where  he  al- 
ways spent  his  Sabbath  afternoons,  so  as  to  be  quiet 
with  him,  away  from  the  bustle  of  the  garrison,  and  to 
be  ready  for  the  evening  service.  On  our  leaving,  we 
asked  him  to  come  down  to  St  Elizabeth's ;  which  he 
did,  and  was  so  happy,  that  he  applied  for  a  renewal  of 
leave,  and  spent  six  weeks  with  us  instead  of  three,  as 
at  first  proposed.  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that 
this  was  made  a  time  of  blessing  to  him,  as  he  frequently 
said  how  much  good  he  had  derived  from  his  visit, 
especially  in  regard  to  separation  from  the  world.  He 
had  ever  found  it  difficult  to  draw  the  line,  as  to 
how  far  he  should  mix  up  with  it,  and  enjoy  its  plea- 
sures ;  but  he  said,  the  evening  before  he  left,  '  I  have 
to  thank  God  from  my  heart  that  I  came  here,  I  see 
now  the  path  of  duty  more  clearly  than  I  have  ever 
done  before;  and,  through  God's  grace,  I  have  resolved, 
cost  what  it  may,  to  'come  out,  and  be  separate/ 


TRUE  HEROISM.  63 

"  We  devoted  every  morning  to  religious  conversa- 
tion and  reading  the  Scriptures  ;  he  questioning  me  on 
several  difficult  passages,  and  sitting  as  a  disciple  to  be 
instructed  in  the  things  of  God ;  and  I  assure  you  it 
was  pleasant  to  see  how  greedily  he  received  the  Word- 
Often  have  I  seen  him  melted  to  tears,  when  I  have 
related  some  striking  anecdote  which  at  one  time  or 
another  had  occurred  during  my  ministry.  But  one 
especially  affected  him.  It  was  of  a  dying  man,  who, 
when  his  medical  adviser  told  him  that  he  had  not  an 
hour  to  live,  exclaimed,  '  I  cannot  die — I  cannot  stand 
before  an  angry  God.' 

"  This  had  a  great  effect  on  him,  and  as  he  occupied 
the  room  immediately  under  mine,  I  could  hear  him 
during  the  former  part  of  the  night,  agonising  with 
God  in  prayer.  My  wife  had  an  equally  deep  affection 
for  him  with  my  own ;  and  she  and  I  have  often  re- 
gretted that  we  had  not  a  more  frequent  correspond- 
ence with  our  truly  valued  friend." 

He  did  not  remain  long  in  Jamaica  after  this  visit,  only 
a  few  weeks,  as  the  cholera  broke  out  among  the  troops, 
and  they  were  removed  away  as  early  as  possible. 

With  reference  to  that  time,  we  have  this  additional 
testimony,  in  a  letter  dated  November  29,  1861,  from 
General  Armstrong,  for  whom  Arthur  ever  retained  a 
most  grateful  regard : — 

" .  .  .  .  The  cholera  broke  out  amongst  us  in  Sep- 


64  TRUE  HEROISM. 

tember  1850,  and  carried  off  about  one-third  of  our 
little  garrison  at  Port-Royal  within  a  month.  Nothing 
could  exceed  the  unwearied  attention,  affectionate  kind- 
ness, and  moral  courage  displayed  by  poor  dear  Van- 
deleur  during  his  voluntary  attendance  upon  the  sick 
and  the  dying,  until  the  disease  attacked  him,  amongst 
the  last  of  the  sufferers,  and  he  very  nearly  fell  a  vic- 
tim to  it. 

"  His  whole  life,  ever  since  I  have  known  him,  in 
Jamaica  and  elsewhere,  was  always  that  of  a  kind, 
noble-hearted,  truly  Christian  gentleman. 

"  He  was  beloved  by  me  nearly  as  a  son,  on  account 
of  his  numerous  virtues  and  many  endearing  qualities, 
and  his  death  I  most  sincerely  and  deeply  deplore." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

f  Ije  I  igfot 


Lord,  in  the  strength  of  grace, 
With  a  glad  heart  and  free, 

Myself,  my  residue  of  days, 
J  consecrate  to  Thee." 


AETHUK  VANDELEUR'S  kind  and  thoughtful  guardian 
was  anxious  that  his  ward  should  return  for  his  coming 
of  age,  on  the  21st  of  January,  1850  ;  in  order  that 
the  attachment  between  himself  and  his  tenantry 
might  have  the  additional  tie  of  this  eventful  day  being 
spent  amongst  them,  with  the  usual  rejoicings  on  such 
an  occasion.  But  Arthur  found  that  it  would  be  un- 
desirable to  press  for  his  leave,  before  the  return  of 
his  company ;  which  did  not  take  place  until  the 
month  of  February,  1851. 

Immediately  on  his  arrival,  as  he  was  now  in  his 
twenty-third  year,  he  undertook  the  management  of 
his  own  affairs,  the  prosperous  state  of  which  he  owed 
to  the  wise  and  generous  care  of  his  deeply-valued 
guardian,  Mr  Molony. 

One  of  his  first  desires  was  to  atone,  as  far  as  it 
was  possible,  for  the  heavy  losses  his  father  had  oc- 
casioned to  several  persons,  in  various  positions  of  life, 
by  failures  in  wild  speculations.  And  although  they 
had  no  legal  claim  upon  the  son  for  the  debts  of  the 


68  THE  LIGHT  BURNING. 

father,  Arthur  Vandeleur  borrowed  a  large  sum  of 
money  on  mortgage  of  the  estate,  in  order  to  make  repay- 
ment as  far  as  possible ;  thereby  not  a  little  impover- 
ishing himself  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

On  his  return  to  Woolwich,  he  resumed  his  old 
and  beloved  position  of  a  son  with  a  father,  towards 
Colonel  Anderson.  In  his  diary,  which  was  either 
not  written,  or  not  preserved,  during  his  residence 
in  Jamaica,  but  which  was  now  resumed  and  kept 
with  great  regularity,  we  find  frequent  records  of  the 
happy  evenings  spent  at  "  his  colonel's  "  house ;  and  of 
the  portions  of  Scripture  which  were  read  and  dis- 
cussed there. 

His  mind  was  developing  itself  rapidly  at  this  time ; 
and  the  natural  love  of  reading  which  he  had  shewn  in 
his  boyish  days,  now  led  him  to  devote  a  good  deal  of 
his  leisure  time  to  study.  The  cast  of  his  mind  caused 
him  chiefly  to  choose  those  books  which  required  reflec- 
tion ;  and  which  tended  to  increase  and  strengthen  his 
mental  powers.  He  was  not  satisfied,  with  reading 
merely  in  a  desultory  manner,  to  pass  the  time  plea- 
santly ;  but  he  exercised  a  considerable  amount  of 
determination  and  self-control,  in  turning  this  reading 
to  the  best  account.  This  appears  in  the  following 
rules  which  are  worthy  of  notice,  especially  as  having 
been  framed,  and,  for  the  most  part,  rigidly  observed, 
by  so  young  a  man  ;  although  they  may  have  been 
rather  too  stringent  to  allow  free  play  to  his  intellect. 


THE  LIGHT  BUENING.  69 

Remarks. 

"  Having  found  that  I  do  not  remember  for  any  con- 
siderable length  of  time  what  I  have  read,  and  knowing 
that  memory  consists,  to  a  great  extent,  in  attention, 
I  conclude  that  I  do  not  read  with  attention.  To  make 
myself  do  so,  I  propose  the  following  plan,  which, 
though  undoubtedly  a  slow  one,  is,  I  think,  a  sure 
one ;  for,  as  the  victorious  tortoise  said  to  the  hare, — 

'  Slow  and  steady  wins  the  race.' 

"  My  plan  is  this — 

"  1st,  To  write  down  all  the  principal  ideas  and 
sentiments,  &c.,  of  every  book  which  I  may.  read,  as 
concisely  as  possible,  in  my  own  words. 

"2nd,  To  write  each  day  what  I  have  read  on  the 
previous  day. 

"  3rd,  On  Saturday  to  read  only  religious  works — 
that  I  may  be  able  to  write  on  Sunday  what  I  have 
read  on  the  previous  day,  without  transgressing  the 
commands  of  my  good  God  and  Saviour.  Reading 
these  works  alone,  on  Saturday,  (not  on  Saturday  only,) 
will  tend  to  prepare  my  mind  for  closer  communion 
with  my  holy  Father  on  His  own  day. 

"  4th,  To  suffer  nothing  to  interfere  with  this  writ- 
ing. Should  duty  or  disinclination  prevent  me  from 
keeping  this  rule,  resolved  to  read  nothing  (save  one 
newspaper)  but  God's  Holy  Word  and  the  little  com- 
mentary, until  I  have  performed  this  duty,  though 


70  THE  LIGHT  BURNING. 

the  condemnation  should  last  some  days;  except  under 
unusual  circumstances,  such  as  a  journey. 

"  5th,  Should  I  fail  to  remember  (without  referring 
to  the  book)  what  I  have  read,  resolved  to  recommence 
reading  at  the  place  of  failure,  till  I  can  express  the 
author's  meaning  properly. 

"  6th,  To  make  what  remarks  I  can  on  the  subject 
treated  of,  so  as  to  accustom  myself  both  to  reflect  on 
what  I  read,  and  to  express,  in  suitable  language,  my 
ideas. 

"  7th,  To  commence  reading  in  this  manner  to-day. 
Oh,  Almighty  God,  Thou  who  knowest  how  impossible 
it  is  for  man  either  to  think  a  good  thought  of  himself, 
or  to  act  aright  in  his  own  strength,  as  it  is  Thou  who 
hast  put  the  wish  into  my  heart  to  improve  my  mind 
for  Thy  service,  do  Thou  give  me  energy  and  determi- 
nation, that  I  may  persevere  in  doing  my  best,  to  Thy 
glory." 

"Saturday,  September  6th. — Played  chess  in  the 
evening  with  De  Havilland.  We  are  a  good  match ; 
but  my  wretched  pride,  whenever  I  am  beaten,  tries  to 
make  me  deny  the  superiority  of  his  play  to  mine 
during  that  game.  Oh,  my  God,  humble  me,  over- 
come this  horrid  pride  in  me,  for  Jesus'  sake.  Amen." 

"Saturday,  September  13th. — Eose  very  late  this 
morning.  This  is  very  bad.  Seven  hours'  sleep  is  as 
much  as  I  require ;  so,  if  I  go  to  bed  at  eleven,  I 


THE  LIGHT  BURNING.  71 

ought  to  get  up  at  six ;  but  I  am  so  lazy  and  slothful, 
that  I  seldom  get  up  till  my  servant  has  called  me  two 
or  three  times.  I  fear  that  in  this,  as  in  other  ways, 
I  may  dishonour  my  Christian  profession.  0  Lord, 
teach  me  to  overcome  it.  Give  me  grace  and  strength 
to  do  so.  Now,  Lord,  I  will  make  a  new  start ;  to- 
morrow I  will  try  to  rise  at  six,  and,  for  the  future, 
will  always  try  and  get  to  bed  at  eleven.  Read  little 
to-day.  Evident  sign  that  I  rose  too  late.  Whenever 
I  do  that,  the  day  slips  through  my  fingers  before  I 
can  do  anything." 

"  Tuesday,  September  16th. — Dined  with  dear  Colo- 
nel Anderson.  Mr  Yorke  and  many  Christian  friends 
came  in  the  evening.  Colonel  Anderson  requested  me 
to  pray ;  but  oh,  because  I  was  filled  with  self,  I  was  so 
nervous  that  I  could  hardly  express  an  idea.  Oh,  sub- 
due self  and  pride,  wretched  pride,  my  Saviour,  and  fill 
me  with  Thyself,  Thy  gracious  self.  Give  me  the  power 
of  expressing  my  thoughts,  for  Jesus'  sake.  Amen." 

"  September  18th. — Read  a  good  deal  of  Young's 
'  Night  Thoughts '  in  the  omnibus.  The  thoughts  are 
deep ;  but  the  subject,  '  The  Glory  of  God,  as  shewn 
by  the  Stars  and  the  Heavens/  causes  it  to  be  unusually 
fine,  even  for  him.  Felt  my  mind  benefited  by  it,  and 
my  thoughts  kept  from  wandering  in  forbidden  and 
unhallowed  regions.  For  this  I  praise  Thee,  my 
Father,  through  Jesus  Christ.  Determine,  in  conse- 
quence, frequently  to  take  this  book  with  me." 


72  THE  LIGHT  BURNING. 

"Sabbath-day,  September  2lst. — Dr  DufF,  the  cele- 
brated Scotch  missionary  from  India,  preached,  and  I 
thank  God  that  I  heard  him.  His  text  was  Psalm 
cxxx.  3,  4  "  If  Thou,  Lord,  shouldst  mark  iniquities, 

0  Lord,  who  shall  stand?     But  there  is  forgiveness 
with  Thee,  that  Thou  mayest  be  feared."     Through  the 
mercy  of  my  Saviour,  I  have  derived  much  benefit  from 
Dr  Duff,  and  I  trust,  from  this  time  forth,  to  take  an 
active  interest  in  the  evangelisation  of  the  poor  heathen. 

1  must  begin  at  once,  and  will  do  so.      Oh,  my  God, 
do  Thou  cleanse  my  heart  in  the  blood  of  Thy  dear 
Son.     Now  that  I  here  give  Thee  my  heart,  surely  the 
outworks  will  all  become  Thine.     Yes,  Lord,  I  devote 
myself,  my  life,  my  all,  to  Thy  service.    What  wouldst 
Thou  have  me  to  do  ?     I  implore  of  Thee,  the  living 
God,  never  to  leave  me,  but  to  perfect  Thine  own  work, 
and  to  make  me  altogether  like  my  glorious  Lord  and 
Master ;  and  oh,  was  not  He  holy  and  humble  ?     Oh, 
make  me  holy  and  humble  for  His  sake.     Amen." 

The  dangerous  amusement  of  billiard-playing,  for  a 
short  time,  again  became  a  snare  to  him.  Games  of 
hazard,  like  deeds  of  adventure,  could  not  fail  to  have 
an  ensnaring  fascination  for  such  a  character  as  his. 
But  when  he  heard  that  his  mere  appearance  at  the 
public  billiard-table  brought  a  reproach  upon  the  name 
of  his  Lord,  and  did  an  injury  to  the  souls  of  some  who 
were  keenly  watching  the  consistency  of  his  Christian 


THE  LIGHT  BURNING.  73 

example,  he  renounced  the  long-questioned  amusement 
at  once  and  for  ever,  for  the  honour  of  his  Master,  and 
for  the  sake  of  immortal  souls,  "  for  whom  Christ  died ; " 
in  the  spirit  of  the  great  heart  of  an  Apostle,  who  said, 
"  I  will  eat  no  meat  while  the  world  standeth,  if  it 
cause  my  brother  to  offend." 

Arthur  was  now  fast  losing  all  sense  of  the  need  of 
exciting  pleasures,  for  he  was  daily  discovering  more 
and  more  of  that  "kingdom  of  God/'  into  which  he 
had  entered,  and  which  is  "  righteousness,  and  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost."  In  grasping  more  firmly 
the  higher  pleasures,  the  lower  fled  away,  and  were 
desired  no  more.  And  in  the  new  interest  of  winning 
souls  to  Jesus,  he  found  a  deeper  stake  and  a  more 
glorious  gain  than  aught  that  he  had  dreamt  of  before. 

A  few  more  short  extracts  from  his  journal  will  give 
an  idea  of  the  conscientious  watch  which  he  maintained, 
at  this  time,  over  his  progress  in  the  spiritual  life : — 

"  September  30th. — On  looking  back  over  this  month, 
I  find  that  I  have  much  reason  to  thank  and  praise  my 
God  for  giving  me  perseverance  to  continue  to  keep 
my  journal,  which  helps  me  to  hold  communion  with 
Him  ;  and  also  for  enabling  me  to  be  more  careful  of 
my  time  during  the  past  month ;  and  for  keeping  me 
from  the  billiard-roorn  and  racket-court,  where  my 
energies  used  to  be  exhausted  and  my  mind  (too  often) 
corrupted.  I  give  my  God  hearty  thanks  for  His  help 


74  THE  LIGHT  BU11NING. 

granted  me  to  resign  these  ensnaring  amusements ; 
but  much  more  for  the  insight  He  has  given  me  into 
the  evil  of  my  own  heart,  and  for  leading  me  to  flee  to 
Christ  for  salvation.  ALL  my  hope  is  in  Jesus  Christ, 
my  Lord  and  Master.  Truly,  His  yoke  is  easy,  and 
His  burden  is  light.  And  I  pray,  by  His  might  in 
the  inner  man,  to  be  enabled  to  withstand  Satan,  self, 
and  sin. 

"  October  9th. arrived  from  Jamaica,  and 

came  to  see  me.  He  was  not  fortunate  or  happy  there, 
and  is  now  very  ill  with  rheumatic  gout.  He  stayed 
with  me  for  sometime,  and  I  was  enabled  by  God's  grace 
to  speak  seriously  to  him,  and  gently  (I  hope)  to  shew 
him  how  foolish  his  former  conduct  had  been.  I  was 
also  helped  to  bear  my  small  testimony  to  the  happi- 
ness which  is  to  be  found  in  Jesus,  if  we  place  all  our 
dependence  upon  Him,  and  determine  with  all  our 
heart  to  serve  Him.  I  pray  and  trust  that  the  Lord 
will  lead  him  to  Himself." 

"October  Vtijh. — Had  a  pleasant  day  at  the  Sunday- 
school  My  boys  are  getting  on  pretty  well.  I  was 
helped  to  speak  to  them  earnestly  and  affectionately. 
Oh,  may  the  word  take  root  in  their  little  hearts,  that 
they  may  be  brought  to  know  and  love  their  Saviour." 

At  this  time,  Arthur  was  making  frequent  visits  to 
the  Great  Exhibition  in  Hyde  Park  ;  and  both  taking 
sketches,  and  writing  copious  notes  in  his  diary,  de- 


THE  LIGHT  BURNING.  VO 

scribing  the  various  models  of  machinery,  and  represent- 
ations of  scientific  discoveries  and  improvements. 
In  such  details  he  was  always  remarkably  correct  and 
clear.  He  took  great  delight  in  these  visits,  and  also 
in  spending  leisure  hours  in  various  picture  galleries. 
Yet  in  the  midst  of  these  pleasurable  engagements, 
we  find  him  not  unmindful  of  his  Master's  work 

"October   ISifi.— Went   with    P to    Dulwich 

Picture  Gallery  to-day.  Had  a  very  pleasant  ride  ; 
but  did  not  speak  of  the  things  of  God  to  him,  so  ear- 
nestly as  I  ought  to  have  done.  Ah,  how  often  does  a 
casual  and  cold  observation  compose  the  sum-total  of 
my  exertions  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  Pardon,  oh  par- 
don, my  miserable  selfishness,  blessed  Saviour.  How 
can  I,  upon  whom  Thou  hast  bestowed  Thy  mercy  and 
Thy  Love,  be  ashamed  of  speaking  of  Thee ;  or  at  least, 
if  not  ashamed,  wanting  in  patience  and  in  persevering 
energy,  to  bear  the  first  adverse  remark  with  meekness, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  continue  my  purpose.  I  feel 
sure  that  if  I  did  this,  Thou  wouldst  bless  the  effort. 
Give  me  more  faith  and  more  grace  and  courage,  gra- 
cious Saviour." 

With  reference  to  this  time,  Colonel  Anderson  writes : 
"Arthur  Vandeleur  was  for  some  months  under  my 
immediate  command ;  and  as  my  valued  friend,  Sir 
Hew  Ross,  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  Artillery,  was 


76  THE  LIGHT  BURNING. 

in  the  habit  of  frequently  interrogating  me  with  regard 
to  the  character  of  the  young  officers  under  my  charge, 
I  had  peculiar  pleasure  in  pointing  out  Vandeleur  as 
one  in  every  way  deserving  of  his  approbation ;  and  he 
was  pleased,  at  my  recommendation,  to  note  his  name 
for  the  Horse  Artillery,  to  which  branch  of  the  service, 
he  was  shortly  afterwards  appointed ;  and  joined  Captain 
Maude's  troop  in  Ireland.* 


Earnest 


*  Yes  !    He  is  mine  !     And  nought  of  earthly  things, 
Not  all  the  charms  of  pleasure,  wealth,  or  power, 
The  fame  of  heroes,  or  the  pomp  of  kings, 

Could  tempt  me  to  forego  His  love  an  hour : 
'  Go,  worthless  world,'  I  cry,  '  with  all  that 's  thine  1 
Go !     I  my  Saviour's  am,  and  He  is  mine,' 

"  The  good  I  have  is  from  His  stores  supplied ; 

The  ill  is  only  what  He  deems  the  best : 
He  for  my  Friend.  I  'm  rich  with  nought  beside, 

And  poor  without  Him,  though  of  all  possess'd. 
Changes  may  come,  I  take,  or  I  resign, 
Coctent  while  I  am  His,  while  He  is  mine  I* 


THE  two  years  spent  in  Dublin  by  Arthur  Vandeleur, 
appear  to  have  been  a  delightful  time  of  refreshing  to 
his  own  soul,  and  to  those  with  whom  he  held  chief 
intercourse.  Nor  did  he  feel  it  necessary  now  to  con- 
fine himself  to  efforts  to  win  his  personal  friends  and 
acquaintance  to  the  knowledge  and  love  of  that  Saviour 
who  was  every  day  manifesting  Himself  more  fully 
to  his  soul,  as  the  "  altogether  lovely  One ; "  nor  to 
set  as  boundaries  to  his  zeal,  the  gates  of  the  barrack- 
yard.  But  whilst  the  soldier,  and  the  gunner  especially 
amongst  soldiers,  ever  claimed  his  deepest  interest  and 
his  most  loving  effort,  Arthur's  large  heart  embraced 
in  its  desires  the  spiritual  welfare  of  all  his  fellow- 
creatures  in  the  lost  world,  which  has  been  redeemed 
by  the  blood  of  Christ.  And  remembering  the  example 
of  his  Lord,  who  came  to  call  sinners  to  repentance, 
and  who  told  the  depth  and  the  breadth  of  His  love  in 
the  brief  sentence,  "  The  Son  of  Man  is  come  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  is  lost ;  "  he  set  himself  earnestly, 
prayerfully,  and  lovingly  to  work  amongst  the  outcast 
population  of  the  "  St  Giles's  "  of  Dublin. 


80  EARNEST  WORKING. 

Finding  how  necessary  were  combination  and  system, 
to  extensive  success  in  so  wide  a  field,  he  united  with 
great  ardour  in  assisting  in  the  formation  of  a  large 
Eagged  School  in  one  of  the  poorest  and  wildest  dis- 
tricts in  Dublin ;  and  himself  undertook  to  be  its 
superintendent. 

"  His  task  there,"  writes  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Fleury,* 
"  was  a  difficult  one  at  first ;  when  a  multitude  of 
uninstructed  creatures  were  assembled  from  Sun- 
day to  Sunday — ignorant  of  all  religion  save  the  worst 
form  of  Romanism ;  destitute  of  all  respect  for  every 
one  superior  in  education  and  position ;  and  habituated 
from  infancy  to  every  grossness  of  language  and  man- 
ners. These  assemblies  numbered  amongst  them  some 
of  the  vilest  characters ;  and  to  their  depredations  he 
was  constantly  exposed  ;  having  often  to  recount  to  us 
his  losses  of  money,  trinkets,  and  handkerchiefs,  which 
were  purloined  during  the  exercise  of  his  arduous 
office." 

But  his  undaunted  heart  never  failed  him  ;  cheered 
on  by  Christian  hope  and  faith,  his  patient  perse- 
vering love  worked  wonders  with  those  uncivilised 
creatures,  rarely  leaving  any  as  he  found  them  ;  and  to 
many,  his  instructions  were  a  source  of  thanksgiving 
for  both  this  life  and  the  next.  His  removal  from 
Dublin  was  to  them  a  source  of  the  most  genuine  and 
bitter  sorrow. 

*  Incumbent  of  the  Molyneux  Episcopal  Chapel. 


EARNEST  WORKING.  81 

The  dear  and  valued  friend  of  Arthur  Vandeleur,  to 
whom  we  owe  these  details,  bears  the  following  testi- 
mony to  his  character  during  his  stay  in  Dublin : — 

"  Our  intimacy  grew  out  of  spiritual  things.  He 
was  a  member  of  my  congregation  in  the  Molyneux 
Asylum  Chapel ;  and  our  friendship  ripened,  as  I 
became  gradually  acquainted  with  the  high  qualities 
with  which  he  was  endowed.  He  was  a  diligent  and 
animated  attendant  at  regular  evening  meetings  held 
in  my  house ;  which  were  arranged  with  a  view  to  win 
literary  men  to  take  an  interest  in  religion.  Our  re- 
creation consisted  generally,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
evening,  in  reading  original  and  well-selected  papers 
and  passages,  and  subsequently  in  studying  critically 
and  prayerfully  an  appointed  portion  of  Scripture. 

"  Our  young  friend,  Mr  S ,  who  was  one  of  the 

regular  attendants  at  these  meetings,  we  watched  with 
much  anxiety,  as  he  possessed  great  amiability,  and 
had  what  would  be  termed  deep  convictions,  but  con- 
fessed with  great  candour,  and  deplored  with  much 
bitterness,  his  frailties  and  infirmity  of  better  purpose. 
He  was  subject  to  epilepsy,  under  an  attack  of  which 
he  suddenly  died.  To  him,  poor  fellow,  Arthur  was  an 
object  of  the  utmost  wonder,  as  well  as  a  friend  for 
whom  he  entertained  the  most  profound  respect. 

"  The  cheerfulness,  manliness,  steady  piety,  and  un- 
ostentatious zeal  for  all  good  things  which  Arthur  ex- 
hibited, added  to  his  well-known  virtues  as  a  son  and 

F 


82  EARNEST  WOEKING. 

relative,  gave  him  a  degree  of  weight  and  dignity  which 
overwhelmed  every  small  opposition  to  his  pure  reli- 
gion, which  might  naturally  spring  up  in  the  mind  of 
an  unconverted  stranger  on  first  meeting  him. 

"Hence,  amongst  his  brother-officers  at  Portobello 
Barracks,  as  well  as  amongst  the  soldiers  who  passed 
under  his  care,  there  was  ever  exhibited  towards  him 
the  most  unconditional  respect. 

"  Twice  every  Sunday  he  attended  the  services  in  my 
church,  notwithstanding  his  arduous  labours  at  the 
Ragged  School. 

"  At  our  evening  meetings,  which  he  heartily  enjoyed, 
we  frequently  entered  into  the  study  of  unfulfilled  pro- 
phecy. And  when  rumours  of  a  war  in  the  East  be- 
came strong  and  decisive,  he  was  much  interested  in 
the  views  we  entertained ;  and  he  endeavoured  to 
prove  from  Ezekiel  xxxvii.  and  xxxviii.,  that  the  war, 
then  on  the  eve  of  commencement,  was  not  the  final 
war  in  which  the  Czar  of  Russia  was  to  take  so  promi- 
nent a  part,  and  which  is  reserved  for  the  period  im- 
mediately succeeding  the  approaching  restoration  of 
the  Jews  to  the  Holy  Land.  He  therefore  conjectured 
that  the  war  which  then  required  his  removal  from 
home,  would  be  but  short,  and  that,  by  God's  good 
Providence,  he  might  soon  be  meeting  his  friends  in 
Ireland  and  England  again  ! 

"  God  did  spare  him  for  that  meeting  again  !  And 
we  had  the  joy  of  receiving  him  under  our  roof  soon 


EARNEST  WORKING.  83 

after  his  return  home,  prior  to  his  entering  on  the 
duties  of  his  appointment  at  Woolwich.  A  joy  which 
was  not  marred  by  any  apprehension  that  his  removal 
to  another  world  was  drawing  near  ;  for  he  was  then, 
apparently,  in  the  highest  health  as  well  as  spirits. 

"  His  noble  character  and  wonderful  amiability,  all 
under  the  controlling  influence  of  his  genuine  Christian 
piety,  have  left  an  impression  for  good  on  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  all  who  knew  him.  In  fact,  whilst  we 
fondly  look  back  upon  our  intimacy  with  him  as  one 
of  the  brightest  spots  in  our  lives'  history,  we  rejoice 
to  know  that  the  same  happy  and  hallowed  influence 
accompanied  him  wherever  he  went." 

Arthur  Vandeleur  found  a  second  home  in  Dublin, 
in  the  house  of  Mr  Despard,  whose  friendship  he  es- 
teemed as  a  peculiar  gift,  when  he  was  quartered  in 
a  gay  capital,  where  there  was  much  to  tempt  him  into 
frivolous  and  unprofitable  amusements.  He  frequently 
left  the  mess- table  to  spend  his  evenings  in  the  society  of 
his  friend.  "  His  delight,"  writes  Mr  Despard,  "  was  to 
converse  about  his  Master's  kingdom  and  its  interests  ; 
and  never  have  I  known  any  Christian  to  whom  mere 
worldly  topics  of  conversation  were  so  distasteful ;  or 
who  had  a  happier  method  of  bringing  other  minds  to 
centre  on  what  was  the  grand  subject  of  thought  with 
his  own  mind. 

"  His  Sundays  at  that  time  were  nearly  always  spent 
with  us.  Every  Sabbath  afternoon  we  used  to  go  down 


84<  EARNEST  WORKING. 

together  to  a  Sagged  School  consisting  chiefly  of  adult 
Roman  Catholics,  in  one  of  the  most  degraded  districts 
of  Dublin.  His  earnest  anxiety  to  find  an  avenue  of 
approach  to  the  ignorant  and  superstitious  minds  of 
the  poor,  miserable-looking  creatures  who  formed  his 
class ;  and  his  warm-hearted,  affectionate  addresses  to 
the  whole  assembly  at  the  close  of  the  school,  (of 
which  he  was  superintendent,)  will  long  be  remembered 
by  those  who  were  so  favoured  as  to  be  able  to  observe 
and  to  hear  them.  It  was  indeed  a  privilege,  for  the 
couple  of  years  that  he  was  quartered  in  Dublin,  to  be 
an  eye-witness  of  his  consistent  and  devoted  Christian 
life." 

An  index  to  his  mind  and  to  his  motives  of  action, 
at  this  time,  is  given  in  the  following  letters  : — 

"R.  A.  BARRACKS,  PORTOBELLO, 
"August  1st,  1853. 

"  MY  DEAR  BRUCE, —  ....  I  have  had  so  much 
official  correspondence  to  carry  on,  that  I  have  for 
some  time  neglected  nearly  all  my  friends.  However, 
I  trust  that  this  is  now  at  an  end,  and  hope  to  be 
more  regular  for  the  future  in  replying  to  your  kind 
and  welcome  letters.  It  was  indeed  a  disappointment 
to  know  that  you  could  not  pay  your  promised  visit 
to  me  this  year,  but  I  hope  you  will  come  before  I 
leave  Ireland,  that  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  going 
together  to  see  some  of  its  numerous,  though  some- 


EARNEST  WORKING.  85 

what  scattered  beauties.  Speaking  on  this  subject, 
where  do  you  think  I  have  been  playing  the  truant  to  ? 
No  less  a  place  than  the  far-famed  Killarney.  It 
came  to  pass  in  this  way  :  I  had  to  go  down  to  Clare 
to  record  my  vote  at  the  late  election  for  Colonel  Van- 
deleur,  and  to  bring  a  few  of  my  'tinants'  with  me 
to  the  poll,  so,  having  to  get  leave  from  the  General 
for  that  purpose,  I  got  a  few  extra  days,  and  went  to 
Killarney.  Its  beautiful  scenery  charmed  me  very  much; 
but,  being  quite  alone,  I  found  it  rather  solitary  work, 
and  much  wished  to  have  you  with  me.  You  must 
really  come  over  to  Old  Ireland,  if  it  were  only  to  see 
that  one  charming  spot.  Much  as  I  had  heard  of  its 
beauties,  I  was  not  in  the  least  disappointed,  but  rather 
the  reverse.  It  is  just  the  place  you  would  delight  in, 
being  well  calculated  to  store  your  mind  with  poetic 
ideas,  having,  within  the  compass  of  twenty  miles, 
every  species  of  beautiful  scenery,  and  not  an  ugly  or 
uninteresting  spot  in  it  all — mountains  craggy  and 
bare,  with  magnificent  precipices  and  bold  outlines,  and 
with  very  fine  echoes,  many  times  repeated.  Then, 
within  a  short  distance,  mountains  with  gentle,  un- 
dulating slopes,  clad  to  the  very  summit  with  oak,  fir, 
and  arbutus  trees.  You  have  also  various  waterfalls 
and  rapids,  rivers  and  lakes  of  all  shapes  and  sizes,  old 
abbeys  and  modern  churches,  ruined  castles  situated  on 
islands  and  peninsulas,  and  modern  ones,  their  rivals  in 
beauty  and  elegance,  if  not  in  age.  But  it  is  a  place  of 


86  EARNEST  WORKING. 

which  description  would  fail  to  give  you  any  adequate 
idea ;  therefore,  I  say,  you  must  come  over  when  you 
can,  and  see  and  judge  for  yourself,  and  if  you  will 
make  me  your  travelling  companion,  I  shall  be  truly 
rejoiced,  dear  Bruce.  I  could  only  remain  there  three 
days  when  on  leave ;  but  it  is  a  place  which  affords 
points  of  interest  for  a  much  longer  time,  had  one  but 
the  leisure.  But  enough  of  Killarney  for  the  pre- 
sent. You  will  be  glad  to  know  that  I  continue  to  like 
Dublin  very  much.  I  think  it  one  of  our  best  stations. 
It  has  many  spiritual  advantages.  I  do  not  now  attend 
the  controversial  lectures,  not  because  I  feel  less  in- 
terest in  them  than  formerly,  but  because  I  really  have 
not  time  to  do  so.  Our  Ragged  School  is  progressing 
favourably  ;  it  is  a  very  valuable  institution,  and  is  the 
means  of  doing  much  good.  My  class  of  old  women 
continues  to  interest  me  as  much  as  ever.  I  have 
some  who  are  very  regular  attendants,  and  who  ap- 
pear to  take  an  interest  in  what  they  hear ;  indeed, 
I  trust  the  Lord  has  touched  the  hearts  of  some  of 
them.  This  is  to  me  a  matter  of  deep  thankfulness  to 
Almighty  God ;  may  all  the  glory  and  praise  be  to  His 
most  holy  name.  Oh,  dear  Bruce,  it  would  delight 
you  to  see  the  eyes  of  these  poor  creatures,  taken  from 
amongst  the  lowest  of  the  Irish  paupers,  sparkle  with 
delight,  and  their  miserable,  haggard  countenances 
grow  happy,  for  the  time,  when  they  are  told  of  the 


EAKNEST  WORKING.  87 

love  of  Jesus.  You  can  imagine  what  encouragement 
these  little  circumstances  give  me.  I  sometimes  feel  as 
if  one  such  were  sufficient  reward  for  a  year's  labour. 
The  priests  hate  us  most  cordially,  and  curse  any  one 
who  will  come  to  our  school ;  still  they  come,  and  our 
numbers  increase.  So  much  for  the  priests'  influence 
in  Dublin.  Would  to  God  they  had  no  more  else- 
where !  but  it  is  being  undermined,  I  trust  and  think, 
everywhere.  It  afforded  me  pleasure  and  happiness 
of  the  most  intense  kind,  to  learn  from  your  ownself 
of  your  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare,  and  that  Jesus 
is  becoming  every  day  more  precious  to  your  soul 
Praised  be  His  holy  name  for  His  great  mercies  to 
you.  Indeed,  Bruce,  since  I  last  wrote,  I  too  have 
received  signal  mercies  at  the  hand  of  God,  for  which, 
I  think,  I  am  not  ungrateful.  I  trust,  also,  that  I  have 
progressed  somewhat  on  my  road  Heavenward ;  but 
not  so  much  as  I  might  have  done.  Oh,  how  I  long 

to  see  you,  and  converse  with  you I  hope  that 

we  shall  yet  be  quartered  together — the  sooner  the 
better.  Meantime,  let  us  pray  for  each  other  more 
earnestly  than  ever.  I  send  you  a  little  paper  given 
me  by  a  valued  friend  a  few  days  since.  It  will,  I 
hope,  stir  you  up  to  oppose  the  Man  of  sin,  even  more 
than  you  have  yet  done.  Tell  me  what  you  think  of  it, 

in  your  next.    W ,  whom  you  well  know,  is  my  chief 

here ;  he  is  very  kind  to  me  and  all  of  us,  and  is  very 


88  EAENEST  WORKING. 

much  liked ;  but  for  the  sake  of  my  profession,  I  could 
wish  that  he  was  somewhat  more  strict  and  regular. 
It  is  good  for  young  fellows  to  be  under  tight  hands ! 
It  is  just  possible  that  I  may  go  to  Chobham  and 
Woolwich  in  about  ten  days  to  get  my  shot  tried,  &c. 
&c. — Your  affectionate  friend,  A.  V." 

TO  COLONEL  ANDERSON,  E.A. 

"  PORTOBELLO,  Augmt  18th,  1852. 

"MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — Your  kind  and  welcome 
letter  afforded  me  the  greatest  pleasure,  and  I  have 
to  thank  you  in  the  warmest  manner  for  your  kind 
wishes  and  advice,  which  prove  that  you  still  con- 
tinue to  remember  me.  We  do  indeed  require  con- 
stant exhortation  to  persevere  in  the  conflict  against 
Satan  and  indwelling  sin,  by  making  diligent  use  of 
the  means  of  grace.  These  are  the  weapons  which 
are  provided  for  our  warfare,  and  is  it  not  comforting 
to  know  that  their  effect  upon  our  enemies  depends, 
not  upon  the  strength  of  the  arm  that  uses  them, 
but  rather  upon  the  almighty  power  of  the  great  Cap- 
tain of  our  Salvation  ? 

"It  requires  to  be  impressed  constantly  upon  the 
mind,  that  the  work  of  sanctification  has  to  be  per- 
formed in  us  and  by  us,  as  fellow- workers  with  God. 
We  are  so  prone  to  think  that  we  have  nothing  to  do 


EARNEST  WORKING.  89 

but  to  sit  still  and  wait  for  our  hearts  to  be  renewed. 
But  though  it  is  quite  true  that  we  cannot  change  our 
own  hearts,  yet  we  can  lay  ourselves  under  the  changing, 
transforming  influences  of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  Though 
we  cannot  turn  of  ourselves,  yet  we  can  frame  our  doings 
to  turn ;  and  it  is  for  the  neglect  of  this  duty  that 
Rehoboam  is  so  much  blamed — '  He  did  evil  because 
he  prepared  not  his  heart  to  seek  the  Lord.' 

"  The  work  of  reformation  is,  I  hope,  still  progress- 
ing in  Ireland;  and  I  fervently  pray,  that  it  may 
never  cease  till  the  whole  island  become  '  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea/ 

"My  time  is  at  present  well  occupied,  as  besides 
being  in  battery,  I  am  doing  Quartermaster  duty, 
during  the  absence  of  Mr  Murray  on  leave.  Captain 
Fitzgerald  has  been  very  ill  for  some  time  past ;  he  has 
suffered  great  pain,  which  he  bears  with  truly  Chris- 
tian patience  and  resignation.  When  I  saw  him,  four 
days  ago,  he  was  quite  unable  to  move  his  right  arm, 
and  looked  very  much  reduced.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  me 
to  visit  him,  as  I  derive  benefit  from  his  conversation. 
I  told  him  that  I  was  going  to  write  to  you,  and  he 

desired  to  be  most  affectionately  remembered 

I  shall  never  cease  to  remember  your  kindness  to  me 
with  the  deepest  gratitude. — Ever,  my  dear  Colonel 
very  sincerely  yours, 

"  ARTHUR  VANDELEUFW" 


90  EARNEST  WORKING. 

The  long  residence  of  Arthur  Vandeleur  in  Dublin, 
necessarily  involved  him  in  a  larger  circle  of  acquaint- 
ance than  he  would  have  met  with  in  other  quarters. 
The  singular  charm  of  his  manners,  and  the  combina- 
tion of  brilliant  personal  attractions  with  a  graceful 
readiness  in  communicating  the  resources  of  a  cultivated 
understanding,  could  not  fail  to  render  him  a  welcome 
addition  to  any  society.  Every  evening  might  have 
been  spent  by  him  in  the  pursuit  of  pleasures  which 
assuredly  would  not  have  eluded  the  grasp  of  such  a 
votary. 

But  now  that  he  had  wholly  surrendered  every 
power  and  every  affection  to  that  Saviour  who  loved 
him  and  gave  Himself  for  him,  Arthur  arrived  at 
the  conclusion,  that  the  great  object  of  life,  for  a 
Christian,  is  not — how  much  he  may  enjoy  of  the 
pleasures  of  a  world  which  has  not  yet  crowned  his 
King  ;  and  the  spirit  of  which  is  so  much  in  opposition 
to  its  rightful  Sovereign,  as  to  be  described  in  His 
Word,  as  "enmity  with  God;"  but  rather,  how  much 
he  may  attain  of  blessed  fellowship  with  his  Saviour, 
and  what  are  the  things  to  be  avoided,  as  endangering 
the  possession  of  that  chief  joy. 

He  was  already  acting  upon  the  principle  of  four 
simple  rules,  his  ready  acceptance  of  which,  when  con- 
versing on  this  subject,  a  few  years  later,  I  well  re- 
member : — 

"  Let  me  never  be  found  where  I  could  not  expect  to 


EARNEST  WORKING.  91 

meet  my  Saviour,  if  He  were  still  a  man  on  the  earth : 
where  I  could  not  ask  Him  to  be  present  with  me,  by 
His  Spirit,  now :  where  I  could  not  be  occupied  in  seek- 
ing, as  opportunity  offered,  to  win  others  to  Him  :  or 
where  I  should  not  like  Him  to  find  me,  when 
'  coming  suddenly/  " 

The  attraction  of  mere  amusement  would  now,  in- 
deed, have  been  easily  resisted  by  him.  But  sometimes, 
by  his  young  imagination,  there  was  thrown  over  those 
scenes  of  gaiety  the  same  golden  glow  which  the  early 
morning  of  his  heart  had  shed  over  different  scenes,  in 
a  sweet  home  of  the  wild  country  of  the  west. 

It  was  a  trial  of  his  faith,  when  he  felt  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  avoid  seeking  out  anywhere  and  everywhere, 
that  gentle  companionship,  the  charm  of  which  had 
never  lessened  for  his  steadfast  heart.  But  he  stood 
the  test,  "  strong  in  the  grace  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  :" 
and,  shunning  the  labyrinth  of  human  probabilities 
and  means  of  success,  he  trusted  the  garnered  hopes  of 
boyhood  and  manhood  on  the  venture  of  an  absolute 
confidence  in  the  power  and  kindness  of  that  God,  who 
pledges  Himself  to  each  of  His  children  still,  as  surely 
as  He  did  to  the  man  after  His  own  heart,  three 
thousand  years  ago — "  Delight  thyself  also  in  the 
Lord,  and  he  shall  give  thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart." 

"  Strong  faith/'  said  a  man  of  God,  "  must  have 
strong  trials."  And  the  Word  of  God  gives  the  reason 
for  it :  "  That  the  trial  of  your  faith,  being  much  more 


92  EARNEST  WORKING. 

precious  than  of  gold  that  perisheth,  though  it  be  tried 
with  fire,  might  be  found  unto  praise  and  honour  and 
glory,  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ." 

The  faith  of  Arthur  Vandeleur  was  destined  to  be 
thus  proved.  Obstacles,  apparently  almost  insur- 
mountable, stood  opposed  to  the  fulfilment  of  his 
wishes.  But  whilst  keenly  feeling  the  present  trial,  he 
possessed  his  soul  in  patience ;  for  in  his  heart  there 
was  a  sea  of  peace,  and  the  current  of  those  troubled 
waters  could  only  ruffle  the  surface. 

The  following  letter  to  his  friend  Captain  Bruce, 
was  written  at  this  time  : — 

"FASSEROE,  Co.  WICKLOW, 
October  28th,  1852. 

"  MY  DEAR  BRUCE, — Amidst  severe  sorrows,  it  has 
been  to  me  a  source  of  much  comfort  that  in  you  I  have 
a  friend  upon  whose  regard  and  affection  I  can  rely. 
The  day  before  I  received  your  valued  letter,  my 
attention  was  drawn  by  one  of  our  brother-officers  to 
that  paragraph  in  your  journal  which  announced  the 
death  of  poor  dear  Orme.  Though  I  had  no  definite 
reason  for  disbelieving  the  statement,  still,  until  I  heard 
direct  from  you,  I  did  not  believe  it ;  because,  I  suppose, 
my  hopes  and  wishes  were  against  my  doing  so. 

"  It  is  indeed,  my  dear  Bruce,  a  heavy  blow  to  both 
of  us ;  but  especially  so  to  you ;  and  I  do  sympathise 
most  deeply  with  you.  He  was  to  each  of  us  a  most 
valued  friend,  and  to  me  a  kind  and  able  adviser,  for 


EARNEST  WORKING.  93 

he  understood  more  of  the  workings  of  my  mind  than 
did  any  other  of  my  friends  or  acquaintance.  I  do 
therefore  deeply  deplore  his  loss.  How  much  more 
must  you !  for  I  saw  long  ago  that  your  minds  were 
so  similar,  that  they  almost  seemed  to  have  been  cast 
in  the  same  mould.  It  was  no  wonder,  then,  that  you 
should  be  drawn  together  in  such  strong  bonds  of 
friendship,  almost  immediately  on  coming  into  contact 
with  each  other.  I  do  therefore  deeply  feel  for  you, 
my  dear  friend,  for  I  know  when  the  string  of  a  power- 
ful bow  gives  way,  how  dreadful  is  the  recoil 

"It  seems  very  sad  that  Orme  should  have  been 
called  away  so  early  when  his  career  of  usefulness  in  his 
Master's  cause  was,  to  our  eyes,  but  just  begun.  And 
at  a  time,  too,  when  those  who  are  entirely  devoted  to  the 
service  of  God,  especially  in  the  army,  can  but  ill  be 
spared.  But  the  Master  knows  best  about  it ;  and  we 
are  therefore  bound  to  believe  that  our  dear  friend  has 
been  called  &vray  just  at  the  proper  time.  We  know 
too  that  he  has  fulfilled  the  great  end  for  which  he 
was  born ; — he  has  glorified  God  in  his  generation. 
And  now  he  is  with,  and  like,  his  Saviour.  What  hap- 
piness !  Oh,  that  the  same  testimony  with  regard  to  us 
and  our  conduct  may  be  able  with  truth  to  be  borne  by 
those  who  have  known  us  best,  when  we,  likewise,  shall 
be  called  out  of  this  world  of  sin  and  sorrow.  Orme 
was  one  of  those  few  whose  '  whole  body  was  full  of 
light'  because  'his  eye  was  single/  What  a  cold 


94  EAENEST  WORKING. 

heartless  wretch  I  feel  myself  to  be,  when  compared 
with  him ! 

"  You  will  pardon  my  apparent  neglect  in  not  writing 
to  you  about  this  loss,  at  once ;  but  it  arose  neither 
from  indifference  nor  laziness.  My  heart  was  over- 
whelmed with  the  severity  of  another  affliction,  different 
in  kind,  but  more  painful  than  I  could  tell  you.  It 
occurred  a  few  days  after  your  letter  reached  me,  and 
so  completely  occupied  my  mind  that  I  could  give  my 
thoughts  to  nothing  else.  However,  my  dear  Bruce, 
God  Himself  has  comforted  my  soul,  and  has  given  me 
grace  to  say  from  my  inmost  heart,  '  Thy  will  be  done, 
0  my  God!' 

"  He  has  made  me  to  see  His  merciful  hand  even  in 
those  things  in  which  at  first  I  could  trace  only  His 
displeasure.  From  the  145th  hymn  in  the  second 
volume  of  Sacred  Poetry  I  have  derived  great  comfort, 
particularly  from  verses  two  and  three. 

"  I  am  trying  to  get '  leave '  from  the  1st  of  November 
to  travel  on  the  Continent — I  think  in  France  and 
Italy.  How  I  wish  you  could  come.  Many  reasons 
combine  to  make  me  wish  to  go  at  this  time ;  and  I 
am  given  to  understand  that  I  shall  be  unable  to  get 
away  after  next  March.  However,  if  you  are  going 
early  next  year,  I  will  try  my  best,  but  am  not  sanguine 
about  it. 

"  The  only  letter  I  have  had  lately  from  Woolwich 
was  from  Desborough.  He  says  they  are  all  getting  on 


EARNEST  WORKING.  95 

well     You,  I  suppose,  hear  from  the  dear  old  Colonel 
Ever  your  affectionate  friend, 

"  ARTHUR  VANDELEUB." 

In  the  end  of  1852,  having  obtained  leave  of  absence, 
he  was  able  to  fulfil  his  desire  of  spending  a  short 
time  upon  the  Continent 

His  journey  through  Paris,  Lyons,  Marseilles,  Genoa, 
and  Florence,  to  Koine,  afforded  him  many  opportunities 
of  satisfying  that  thirst  for  knowledge  which  was,  from 
his  childhood,  a  distinguishing  feature  of  his  mind.  He 
found  great  enjoyment  in  a  careful  study  of  the  chief 
objects  of  interest  in  the  great  towns  through  which  he 
passed  ;  and  in  a  long  letter  to  his  kind  friend  Colonel 
Anderson,  he  describes  minutely  the  fortifications  of 
Paris  and  Lyons,  which  he  had  opportunities  of  examin- 
ing ;  and  draws  a  comparison  between  the  advantages 
of  the  French  and  English  artillery,  in  system,  dress, 
&c.;  besides  alluding  to  other  matters  bearing  upon 
the  profession  in  which  he  was  so  deeply  interested. 

In  the  same  letter,  he  writes  that  circumstances  pre- 
vented his  having  his  friend,  Captain  Bruce,  for  a  com- 
panion, which  was  a  great  disappointment  to  him;  but 
adds :  "  I  had  the  pleasure  of  the  company  of  Lieu- 
tenant Leahey,  RE. ;  and  I  believe  it  was  ordered 
of  God  for  our  mutual  good  that  we  should  travel 
together.  I  found  him  alive  to,  and  anxious 
about,  the  concerns  of  his  immortal  soul :  and  after 


96  EARNEST  WORKING. 

our  day's  work,  we  often  read  the  Word  of  God  and 
prayed  together.  This  was  a  great  pleasure  to  me, 
and,  I  trust,  of  benefit  to  us  both. 

"You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that,  when  I  was  at  Florence, 
I  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  chief  friend  of  the 
Madiai,  who  gave  me  a  full  account  of  those  most 
interesting  persons ;  and  though  he  said  he  had  but 
little  hope  of  their  being  released  prior  to  the  expira- 
tion of  their  sentence,  yet,  he  told  me,  they  gloried  in 
being  counted  worthy  to  suffer,  not  only  shame,  but 
cruel  persecution,  for  the  name  of  Jesus.  He  added 
that,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  efforts  on  the  part  of 
the  Jesuits,  backed  by  the  government,  neither  in 
Florence  nor  in  Rome  itself  were  they  able  entirely  to 
check  the  circulation  of  the  Protestant  Bible,  or  to 
eradicate  the  effects  which,  when  read,  it  had  produced 
on  the  minds  and.  conduct  of  those  who  had  received 
it.  He  also  said  that  the  spirit  of  religious  inquiry  was 
much  on  the  increase  in  Italy.  Is  not  this,  my  dear  sir, 
glorious  news  ?  The  hand  of  our  God  is  not  shortened, 
that  it  cannot  save ;  neither  is  His  ear  heavy,  that  it 
cannot  hear.  May  He  accomplish  His  work  in  this 
benighted  land,  and  thoroughly  overcome  the  Man  of 
sin,  who,  in  this  (so-called)  Eternal  City,  in  all  his 
pride  and  pomp,  '  setteth  himself  above  all  that  is  called 
God.'  '  He  is  faithful  that  hath  promised ' — '  who 
also  will  do  it.' " 

To  the  same  friend,  a  few  months  later  : — 


EARNEST  WORKING.  97 

"  PORTOBELLO,  DUBLIN,  April  16,  1853. 

"  MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — Since  your  most  kind  letter 
of  the  28th  February  arrived,  I  have  been  anxiously 
expecting  the  arrival  of  a  schooner  from  Leghorn, 
on  board  of  which  I  had  placed  one  or  two  little 
packages  for  conveyance  to  England ;  and  as  there 
was,  amongst  other  Italian  curiosities,  one  which  I 
purposed  presenting  to  yourself,  I  deferred  writing 
till  I  could  make  satisfactory  mention  concerning  it. 
The  vessel  has  just  arrived  in  safety,  and  I  therefore 
lose  no  time  in  forwarding  to  you  what  I  hope  you  will 
kindly  accept,  as  a  very  small  token  of  the  esteem  and 
affection  which  I  have  long  borne  towards  yourself  and 
Mrs  Anderson.  It  is  a  vase  sculptured  at  Florence 
out  of  '  Verde  Antica '  marble ;  and  it  will  afford  me 
sincere  pleasure  should  you  deem  it  worthy  of  a  place 
in  that  drawing-room  where  I  have  received  so  much 
kindness. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote  to  you,  Colonel  Savage  has  been 
so  kind  as  to  appoint  me  his  adjutant  while  he  re- 
mains in  command  here,  and  I  am  now  sanguine  of 
being  re-appointed  when  Colonel  Warde  arrives  from 
Limerick,  as  my  kind  and  much  esteemed  friend 
Colonel  Armstrong  has  recommended  me  to  him.  It  is 
an  office  of  considerable  responsibility,  and  at  times  the 
duties  require  much  bodily  and  mental  exertion,  but  I 
like  it  the  better  on  these  accounts,  for  one  is  always 
happier  when  one  has  plenty  to  employ  one's  mind ;  and 


98  EAENEST  WOKKING. 

I  humbly  trust  that  God  will  give  me  grace  and  strength 
to  fulfil  these  duties  as  becomes  a  good  soldier,  and  a 
faithful  servant  of  Christ.  I  was  greatly  obliged  to  you 
for  taking  so  much  trouble  about  my  shot.  I  have 
determined  to  follow  your  advice,  and  have  got  twelve 
more  shot  and  shells  made.  There  are  one  or  two  alter- 
ations, and  I  hope  improvements,  in  my  plan.  I  am 
not  a  little  sanguine  of  success.  Before  I  went  on 
leave  to  the  Continent,  I  made  trial  of  the  principle 
with  a  rifle,  and  succeeded  beyond  my  utmost  expecta- 
tions, so  far  as  the  experiments  were  carried  on.  I  am 
about  to  resume  them,  and,  on  Thursday  next,  will 
practise  at  the  Pigeon-house  at  long  ranges,  in  order 
that  I  may  be  able  to  inform  the  select  committee  of 
the  result  of  the  trials  of  my  invention,  as  far  as  I  could 
carry  them  on  with  my  own  resources.  Should  the 
committee  consent  to  the  trial  of  my  shot,  I  will  avail 
myself  of  your  very  kind  offer  to  watch  for  me  the 
progress  of  these  trials,  as  I  think  it  is  unlikely  they 
will  grant  me  leave  during  the  summer  for  any  pur- 
pose. 

"During  the  past  week,  the  usual  April  meetings 
of  the  Irish  Clergy  took  place  in  the  Eotunda.  I  had 
the  privilege  of  attending  three  of  the  morning  ones, 
when  they  all  assembled  for  prayer  and  reading  the 
"Word  of  God  at  7  A.M.  We  then  breakfasted  together, 
and  re-assembled  in  the  Rotunda  to  discuss  various 
pre-arranged  subjects.  Several  spoke  admirably,  but 


EARNEST  WORKING.  99 

none  more  so  than  the  Eev.  E.  Bickersteth.  It  was, 
indeed,  delightful  to  hear  those  men  of  God  telling  of 
their  experience  during  a  long  and  laborious  life  in 
their  Master's  vineyard.  We  could  not  but  feel  our 
hearts  warmed  within  us  at  the  recital  of  so  many  in- 
teresting facts.  I  am  convinced  that  these  meetings 
are  sources  of  great  good  to  this  land.  I  learned  that 
those  clergymen  who  attend  them,  some  of  whom  were" 
at  first  lukewarm,  are  eveiy  year  becoming  more  inter- 
ested in  the  great  work  now  going  on.  Can  you  con- 
ceive a  more  encouraging  sight  than  that  of  four  hun- 
dred ministers  of  the  Gospel  coming  together  for  the 
purpose  of  uniting  in  prayer  to  God,  that  He  would 
carry  on  the  work  amongst  us  more  effectually  ;  whilst 
at  the  same  time,  an  opportunity  was  afforded  the  aged 
and  more  experienced  servants  of  Christ,  to  tell  their 
younger  brethren  how  they  might  best  promote  the 
interests  of  His  kingdom.  I  must  confess  I  never  saw 
a  more  heart-stirring  scene. 

"  I  saw  Fitzgerald  the  other  day  ;  he  is  now  quite 
well,  and  his  wife  and  infant  are  progressing  favour- 
ably ;  he  desired  me  to  send  his  most  affectionate 
regards.  I  have  to  thank  you  very  much  for 
your  kind  letter  about  the  Horse- Artillery.  I  have 
not  made,  nor  do  I  purpose  making,  any  further 
application  for  an  appointment  than  that  which  you 
recommended.  If  I  get  one,  it  will  be  altogether  owing 
to  your  great  kindness.  Please  give  my  kindest  regards 


100  EARNEST  WOEKING. 

to  Mrs  Anderson  and  Harry,  who,  I  suppose,  is  the 
only  one  of  your  family  now  with  you.  You  must  all 
miss  your  daughter  much.  Believe  me,  dear  Colonel, 
your  sincere  young  friend,  A.  VANDELEUE." 

During  the  two  years  that  he  was  quartered  in  Ire- 
land, Arthur  Vandeleur  had  frequent  opportunities  of 
"taking  a  personal  interest  in  his  tenantry.  They  were 
justly  proud  of  his  soldier-like  spirit  and  high  char- 
acter. And  whilst  his  kindly  affections  and  generous 
sympathies  drew  out  their  wannest  attachment,  he  be- 
came doubly  sensible  of  his  responsibilities  as  a  land- 
lord. Distinctly  did  he  feel,  that  all  that  he  had  was 
his  only  to  hold  as  a  steward,  for  an  unseen  Master,  to 
whom  he  must  render  a  faithful  account. 

Besides  his  efforts  to  promote  the  comfort  of  the 
poor  on  the  estate,  by  improving  their  cottages  and  gar- 
dens, and  in  other  ways  ;  he  also  established  a  school, 
and  paid  an  able  master  for  five  years,  in  sanguine 
hope  of  a  success  which  was  never  realised.  During 
the  whole  of  this  time,  the  Romish  priests  would  not 
allow  their  people  to  send  a  single  child  to  the  school, 
because  the  Bible  was  to  be  read  there  ;  although  there 
was  a  distinct  engagement  that  no  controversial  subject 
should  be  introduced. 

This  disappointment  grieved  him  to  the  heart.  But 
his  personal  influence,  whenever  he  was  able  to  be 
amongst  his  people,  was  irresistible.  No  priest  could 


EAENEST  WORKING.  1 0 1 

gainsay  the  truth  and  love  of  that  honest,  warm  nature ; 
nor  veil  "  the  shining  light "  of  that  beautiful  presence, 
and  happy,  holy  life.  The  peasantry  were  deeply  im- 
pressed by  his  earnest  devotion  to  his  Divine  Master  and 
Saviour,  and  would  listen  by  the  hour  to  the  winning 
tones  of  his  pleasant  voice,  as  he  sought  with  all  the 
fervour  and  fire  of  his  heart,  to  persuade  them  to  come 
to  Jesus  for  pardon  and  peace.  Many  of  them  still 
speak  of  him  with  tears,  and  exclaim,  "  Ah,  he  was  too 
good  to  live  !  The  Lord  loved  him  too  much  to  spare 
him  to  us  any  longer." 

"  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


'  His  love  possessing,  I  am  blest; 

Secure,  whatever  change  may  come  : 
Whether  I  go  to  east  or  west, 

With  Him  I  shall  be  still  at  home." 


DEEP  in  every  English  heart  lies  the  memory  of  the 
Crimean  war.  The  first  storm  oversweeping  a  sky  of 
forty  years'  serenity,  startled  a  tranquil  country  into  an 
enthusiasm  of  military  ardour,  and  of  chivalrous  sym- 
pathy with  her  noble  and  gallant  soldiers. 

None  can  forget  the  tremendous  excitement  and 
emotion  stirred  by  the  first  tidings  of  the  battle  of 
the  Alma ;  how  a  conquering  nation  walked  in  pride, 
whilst  loving  hearts  were  trembling  in  dread  suspense 
until  the  list  of  the  names  of  the  wounded  and  the  slain 
crushed  them  with  anguish  ;  or,  by  its  blessed  omissions, 
filled  them  with  joyful  thanksgiving. 

It  was  then  that  Arthur  Vandeleur,  and  hundreds 
of  other  young  Englishmen  who  had  grown  up  in  the 
long  summer  of  peace,  knowing  war  but  in  name,  found 
themselves  for  the  first  time  face  to  face  with  a  hos- 
tile army.  And  it  fell  to  Arthur's  hand  to  fire  the  first 
shot  at  the  foe.  He  rode  beside  the  foremost  gun  up 
the  slope  at  the  affair  of  Bulgarnac,  the  day  before 
the  battle  of  the  Alma.  It  was  his  first  step  in  a 
career  of  gallantry — a  career  shared  by  such  numbers 


1 33  THE  CAMP. 

as  hardly  to  be  remarkable.  Yet,  in  allusion  to  his 
conduct  throughout  that  campaign,  General  Anderson 
writes:  " Vandeleur  was  a  living  proof  that  there  is 
nothing  incompatible  in  being  a  noble  and  chivalrous 
soldier,  and  a  warm  and  earnest  Christian.  He  served 
in  the  Crimea  under  that  distinguished  officer  Captain 
(now  Colonel)  Maude ;  and  quite  bore  out  the  expec- 
tations I  had  formed  of  his  proving  an  ornament  to 
his  profession.  He  was  in  all  the  actions  in  which 
Captain  Maude's  troop  was  engaged ;  and  I  received 
a  letter  from  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Artillery, 
whilst  in  the  Crimea,  in  which  were  these  memor- 
able words :  '  Vandeleur,  I  love.  He  is  brave  as  a 
lion ;  a  polished  gentleman,  and,  above  all,  a  devoted 
Christian.' " 

The  troop  of  Horse- Artillery  to  which  he  belonged> 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Maude,  had  embarked 
in  the  Sultana,  at  Woolwich  Dockyard,  on  the  25th  of 
April  1854,  and  entered  the  Dardanelles  on  the  4th 
of  June. 

The  residence  of  our  troops  at  Varna,  the  landing 
on  the  Russian  shore,  with  the  whole  of  the  Crimean 
campaign,  are  now  only  chapters  in  an  old  and  oft- 
repeated  story.  Very  slight  extracts  will  therefore 
suffice,  from  Mr  Vandeleur's  correspondence  upon 
subjects  of  military  interest ;  and  from  his  diary,  which 
is  a  complete  history  of  the  war,  given  with  considerable 
force,  and  great  distinctness  of  detail 


THE  CAMP.  ]  07 


TO  CAPTAIN  BRUCE. 

"  CAMP  DEVNA,  BULGARIA, 
July  17,  1854. 

".  .  .  .  You  may  easily  imagine  to  how  great  an 
extent  this  kind  of  life  militates  against  our  growth  in 
grace  ;  we  are  thrown  together  so  constantly,  and  have 
so  many  little  trifles  to  annoy  us,  that  our  tempers  are 
much  tried.  I  find  the  use  and  the  comfort  now  more 
than  ever,  of  the  '  Thoughts  of  Peace/  and  Bogatzky's 
'  Golden  Treasury,'  and  Newton's  '  Cardiphonia.'  The 
great  pleasure  I  derive  from  the  perusal  of  the  first  of 
these,  I  have  to  thank  you  for,  and  the  dear  Colonel, 
for  the  benefit  and  help  of  the  last  two.  I  hope  you 
continue  to  read  the  'Thoughts'  as  we  arranged. 
That  for  to-day  is  very  beautiful,  No.  157,  page  207  : 
'Thus  saith  the  Lord,  like  as  I  have  brought  all  this 
great  trial  upon  this  people,  so  will  I  bring  upon  them 
all  the  good  that  I  have  promised  them.'  Well  may 
we  say,  'Faithful  is  He  that  hath  promised,  who  also  will 
do  it.'  I  much  feel  the  want  of  Christian  intercourse,  to 
keep  eternal  things  more  before  my  eyes.  The  things  of 
this  world  at  times  seem  to  shut  them  almost  out  of 
my  sight.  Once  I  thought  myself  grateful  to  my  Lord 
for  His  great  mercy  to  me,  but  I  fear  He  has  found 
my  gratitude  only  as  the  morning  dew — soon  passed 
awpy ;  still  my  trust  is  in  His  word,  '  I  will  never  leave 


108  THE  CAMP. 

thee,  nor  forsake  thee.'  Hammond  of  the  Rifle  Brigade 
is  almost  the  only  person  I  have  met,  with  whom  I  could 
converse  freely.  I  had  a  long  ride  with  him  a  few  days 
since,  and  enjoyed  it  excessively.  The  weather  cool,  the 
scenery  exquisite,  and  a  real  Christian  for  my  com- 
panion, could  it  be  otherwise  than  delightful  ? 

"  Would  that  you  were  here.  Absence  teaches  me  the 
value  of  a  true  friend.  I  often  think,  were  you  here,  I 
should  prize  you  more  and  trust  you  better  than  I  have 
ever  done  before.  Now  for  some  account  of  myself 
and  my  doings.  We  have  been  here  nearly  three 
weeks — at  Devna,  nineteen  miles  north  of  Varna,  This 
place  is  well  suited  for  an  encampment,  being  a  large 
plain  seven  miles  by  two,  surrounded  by  low  mountains, 
covered  with  brushwood,  and  with  a  small  river  running 
through  the  centre.  The  whole  of  the  cavalry  and 
ourselves  occupy  the  north  of  the  river,  the  Light 
Brigade  and  the  rest  of  the  Artillery,  the  high  ground 
on  the  other  side.  It  is  said  that  this  plain  is  hotter  in 
summer  and  colder  in  winter  than  any  other  part  of 
Turkey :  and  I  quite  believe  it,  for  I  can  answer  for  a 
tolerable  degree  of  heat,  having  seen  the  thermometer 
in  my  tent  one  day  at  1 02° ;  however,  this  intense  heat 
does  not  last  long,  but  we  find  the  sudden  and  great 
changes  very  trying,  a  variation  of  40°  between  mid-day 

and  midnight  being  not  uncommon We  have 

at  present  nothing  to  do  but  drill,  and  provide  food 
for  ourselves  and  our  horses.  You  may  laugh,  but 


THE  CAMP.  ]  09 

neither  of  these  is  such  an  easy  operation  as  you 
suppose,  as  you  would  soon  find  out  were  you  a 
subaltern  on  duty.  Watering- order  three  times  a- 
day,  and  two  hours  grazing  at  some  distance  from 
the  camp  twice  a-day ;  barley  to  be  cut  in  its  green 
state  and  carried  home ;  with  stable-duty  as  at  Wool- 
wich, and  the  poor  subaltern  when  on  duty  has  but  little 
time  to  do  anything  but  eat  his  meals  ;  however,  on  other 
days,  when  drill  and  camp-mess  are  over,  there  is  little 
to  be  done,  so  we  ride  into  the  country  on  exploring 
expeditions,  and  sketch,  or  hunt  the  wild  dogs  across 
the  plain  ;  the  latter  is  getting  a  very  favourite  amuse- 
ment, and  one  generally  finds  fifteen  or  twenty  horse- 
men, in  very  motley  costumes,  drawn  out  to  the  meet. 
The  dogs  are  forbidden  to  be  killed,  being  the  scaven- 
gers of  the  district,  and  therefore  these  gallops  generally 

end  harmlessly We  all  have  little  ponies  about 

thirteen  hands,  of  all  shapes  and  colours.  I  have  been 
extremely  fortunate,  (?)  and  bought  for  £\  0  (£5  being  the 
average  price  here,)  an  Arab,  universally  allowed  to  be 
the  handsomest  in  the  army, — he  certainly  is  a  perfect 
beauty.  Should  he  and  1  live,  I  hope  to  bring  '  Omer 

Pasha '  to  England I  expect  soon  to  be  promoted, 

I  trust  not,  however,  till  we  have  met  the  enemy.  I 
shall  try  and  get  some  months'  leave,  if  promoted,  and 
get  home,  if  there  is  nothing  doing  here.  Suppose  you 
try  to  get  leave  at  the  same  time,  and  join  me  some- 
where in  these  countries— how  I  should  rejoice.  Adieu 


110  THE  CAMP. 

my  beloved  friend.  God  bless  you  and  keep  you !    Ever 

yours, 

"  A.  VANDELEUR." 

"  CAMP  DEVNA,  August  27,  1854. 

"  MY  DEAR  MR  FLEURY, — I  am  indeed  obliged  for 
your  most  kind  and  welcome  letter,  which  arrived  by 
last  mail ;  you  can  hardly  imagine  how  much  a  friendly 
letter  enlivens  and  cheers  one's  drooping  spirits  in 

these  desolate,  inhospitable  regions This  is, 

indeed,  a  dry  and  barren  land,  where  no  water  is,  both 
physically  and  spiritually ;  and  when  we  see  in  the 
distance  the  peculiar  balance-draw-wells  of  the  coun- 
try, which  can  be  discerned  a  long  way  off,  the  chances 
are,  that  we  find,  to  our  disappointment,  either  the 
wells  empty  or  the  buckets  broken  off,  which  makes 
one  feel  the  force  of  the  simile  employed  by  St  Peter 
to  describe  the  false  prophets  of  his  day — 'Wells 
without  water.'  True  emblems  also  of  the  '  prophets ' 
of  this  country.  You,  I  am  sure,  must  know  well  the 
lamentable  state  of  infidelity  and  ignorance  in  which 
these  people  live.  They  ignorantly  worship  an  unknown 
God,  and  deny  altogether  the  only  revelation  He  has 

ever  given  of  Himself There  is,  I  understand, 

not  a  single  Christian  missionary  in  the  country,  with 
the  exception  of  one  or  two  sent  to  the  Greeks  and 
the  Armenians. 

"  It  is  the  greatest  pity  to  see  a  magnificent  country, 


THE  CAMP.  Ill 

such  as  this  naturally  is,  running  to  waste  in  every 
direction.  God  has  given  it  natural  capabilities  far 
above  those  of  most  countries,  perhaps  of  any,  and,  as 
is  too  often  the  case,  man  works  in  exactly  the  inverse 

ratio I  have  seen  acres  and  acres  of  thistles 

seven  and  eight  feet  high,  and  so  close  that  you  can 
hardly  walk  between  them.  Every  hedge  is  composed 
of  the  bushes  which  are  so  abundant  everywhere — 
all  thorns — and  the  most  common  weed  by  the  way- 
side is  a  little  thorn  bush,  somewhat  resembling  young 
gooseberry  bushes.  The  cultivation,  such  as  it  is,  is 
of  the  rudest  description ;  and  I  imagine  the  quantity 
of  land  under  cultivation  does  not  exceed  one-fifth 
of  the  whole  surface.  This,  then,  being  the  country 
in  which  I  have  been  living  for  nearly  three  months, 
will  account,  in  some  degree,  for  my  not  having  written 
to  you  long  since,  because  I  really  had  nothing  interest- 
ing to  tell  you,  and  will  shew  how  acceptable  letters 
from  one's  friends  must  be,  as  breaking,  in  a  delightful 
manner,  our  dull  routine  of  campaigning  life. 

"  An  attack  of  the  combined  fleets  and  armies  on  Se- 
bastopol  has  at  last  been  evidently  determined  on,  and 
we  are  on  our  march  from  Jani-Vaza  in  Shumla,  where 
we  have  been  for  the  last  month,  to  Varna,  there  to 
embark  and  take  our  share  in  the  expedition.  I  trust 
and  pray  that  the  Lord  of  hosts  may  be  on  our  side ;  if 
so,  'through  Him  shall  we  do  valiantly,  for  He  it  is 
that  shall  tread  down  all  our  enemies.'  I  am  confident 


112  THE  CAMP. 

in  the  result  being  such  as  we  could  wish  for,  because 
I  know  that  thousands  of  earnest  Christians  are  striv- 
ing with  the  Lord  in  prayer  for  us. 

"  One  thing  is  necessary  above  all  others  to  me,  and 
to  all  here  at  the  present  moment — to  prepare  to  meet 
our  God.  Oh,  may  He  to  whom  alone  the  future  is 
fully  revealed,  lead  me  and  all  of  us  to  put  all  our 
trust  in  the  merits  and  blood  of  His  beloved  Son ; 
then,  indeed,  may  we  look  forward  with  perfect  con- 
fidence, and  do  our  duty,  even  in  the  battle-field,  as 
unto  the  Lord  and  not  unto  men,  heartily  and  cheer- 
fully. But,  oh !  what  difficulties  do  we  encounter  in 
living  to  God  anywhere.  At  home,  there  are  the 
charms  of  the  world  and  the  host  of  Satan's  allure- 
ments to  pleasure,  ease,  and  vanity ;  here,  where  re- 
moved in  some  degree  from  contact  with  these  things, 
he  takes  another  line,  and  tempts  us  to  become  selfish, 
overbearing,  disagreeable,  and  unhappy,  discontented 
with  ourselves  and  with  everything  around  us,  .... 
as  if  we  came  out  here  to  enjoy  ourselves,  and  for  that 
alone.  We  have,  to  be  sure,  suffered  a  good  many 
privations,  and  our  work  has  been  very  severe.  For 
instance,  I  have  never  tasted  good  bread  since  I  have 
been  in  the  country,  and  we  have  often  been  many 
hours  without  food  ;  our  breakfasts  have  often  consisted 
of  tea  without  milk,  some  black  bread,  and  raw  onions  ; 
and  our  dinner,  sometimes,  of  tough  beef  and  biscuit. 
This  is  all  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  procuring  trans- 


THE  CAMP.  113 

port We  marched  from  Devna  yesterday  with 

the  llth  Hussars,  and  we  are  now  encamped  within 
two  miles  of  Varna,  overlooking  the  bay,  which  is  very 
full  of  shipping.  At  last  we  know  that  we  are  destined 
for  Sebastopol.  *  *  *  *  With  kind  regards  to  Mrs 
Fleury  and  all  your  family,  believe  me  to  remain,  with 
great  regard,  very  sincerely  yours, 

"  ARTHUR  VANDELEUR." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

jlerbm. 


"  We  climb'd  the  hard-  won  heights  at  length, 

Baptized  in  flame  and  fire, 
And  saw  the  foeman's  sullen  strength 
Which  grimly  made  retire. 

"  Saw  close  at  hand  —  then  saw  more  far 

Amidst  the  batt'ry's  smoke, 
The  ridges  of  his  scatter'd  war 
That  broke,  and  ever  broke." 


"  Thursday,  August  31st — Late  last  evening  Maude 
returned  with  orders  for  us  to  embark  in  the  Pyrenees) 
No.  1  ;  Kenilworth,  No.  40 ;  Harbinger,  No.  61  ;  and 
Burmah,  No.  85.  This  news  caused  universal  joy,  and 
will  do  wonders  towards  our  recovery.  I  already  feel 
better;  the  strong  coffee  a  la  mode  Turque  doing 
wonders  for  me.  Shakespear  was  taken  ill  last  night 
with  fever,  and  has  gone  into  Varna  to  Mr  Angel's,  of 
the  post-office. 

"Friday,  September  1st. — Embarked  yesterday, 
with  two  guns,  two  waggons,  and  fifty-four  horses,  in 
the  Pyrenees. 

"Saturday,  September  2nd. — Like  the  ship  very 
well,  also  the  captain  and  chief  officers.  Plenty  of 
room  for  men  and  horses — accommodation  not  as  good 
as  that  of  the  Sultana — only  two  spare  stalls.  We 
are  the  only  troop  who  have  brought  their  baggage 
animals  ;  all  owing  to  Maude's  good  management." 

"  Wednesday,  6th. — This  morning  took  a  sketch 
of  the  fleets  at  anchor.  On  the  look-out  the  whole 
day  for  the  signal  to  weigh  anchor,  but  none  made. 


118  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

In  the  evening,  signal  made  from  the  Emperor  for  all 
agents,  and  shortly  afterwards  another,  'Prepare  for 
sea  to-morrow  morning/  This  set  our  minds  at  rest 
for  the  night.  Yesterday  I  paid  a  visit  to  De  Havil- 
land,  and  was  delighted  to  have  once  more  the  oppor- 
tunity of  reading  and  praying  with  him.  How  thank- 
ful I  ought  to  be ! 

"  Thursday,  7th.-^- About  half-past  seven  the  move 
became  general.  The  French  and  Turkish  fleets  also 
got  under  way,  and  being  to  the  east  of  us,  were  ahead 
for  some  time.  Their  steamers  had  three,  four,  and 
five  vessels  astern,  and  were  much  more  scattered  than 
our  fleet.  At  one,  we  passed  astern  of  them,  apparent- 
ly to  let  them  get  on  our  right ; — wind  favourable  for 
Sebastopol — a  gentle  breeze  and  beautiful  day — an 
auspicious  beginning — may  the  end  exceed  our  most 
sanguine  expectations  !  A  more  magnificent  sight  it  is 
impossible  to  conceive — we  are  all  keeping  our  places 
beautifully,  moving  along  about  six  miles  an  hour,  con- 
voyed by  our  three-deckers  and  the  rest  of  our  mag- 
nificent fleet.  What  an  assemblage  of  power  ! — the  two 
finest  fleets  in  the  world — numerous  representatives  of 
our  splendid  merchant  navy,  led  by  the  best  of  our 
merchant  steamers — these  having  on  board  60,000 
men,  all  in  excellent  health  and  high  spirits.  Well 
may  the  Russians  take  shelter  in  their  strong  forts, 
under  cover  of  their  numerous  artillery. 

"  Friday,  Sept.  8th. — Pound  ourselves  at  daylight 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  1 1 0 

several  miles  short  of  our  rendezvous ; — many  ships 
were  out  of  sight — went  very  slowly  to  let  them  come 
up.  At  11  A.M.,  came  up  with  the  French  and  Turkish 
fleets, — had  to  close-in  to  keep  clear  of  them.  They 
were  all  lying-  to  on  the  port  tack ;  they  amounted  to 
about  twenty  sail  of  the  line,  and  a  dozen  frigates. 
We  passed  very  close  to  them,  and  could  see  their  decks 
crowded  with  soldiers.  It  was  a  glorious  sight — out 
of  sight  of  land,  the  sea  perfectly  smooth,  and  sur- 
rounded by  ships  and  steamers  of  all  kinds  and 
sizes. 

"  Our  rendezvous  disappointed  us  sadly;  we  expected 
to  have  seen  No.  9  (13  miles  west  of  Sebastopol)  made, 
and  we  are  losing  all  patience  at  our  slow  rate  of  pro- 
gression. The  band  of  the  95th,  on  board,  is  a  great 
acquisition,  and  enlivens  us  every  evening, — Irish  and 
French  airs  predominating.  My  horses  are  doing 
famously,  and  the  men  are  quiet  and  attentive, — the 
sick  improving.  Have  been  reading  the  Life  of  Dr 
Gordon  attentively,  and  admire  it  excessively;  it 
affords  a  convincing  proof  that  all  great  minds  do  not 
reject  religion.  He  studied  the  theory  and  evidence  of 
Christianity  very  deeply,  became  convinced  of  their 
truth ;  and  also  saw  that  head  knowledge  availed 
little.  In  this  state  he  remained  a  long  time,  but  at 
length  was  enabled  to  go  as  a  little  child  to  Jesus,  to 
cast  all  his  care  upon  Him, — and  felt  joy  and  peace  in 
believing.  From  that  time  forth,  his  life,  always  useful 


120  ACTIVE  SEEVICE. 

in  no  ordinary  degree,  was  devoted  to  his  God,  and 
the  conversations  which  took  place  during  his  last  long 
illness,  are  edifying,  and  deeply  interesting.  Oh,  that 
I  were  more  like  him,  unselfish,  active,  and  benevo- 
lent! 

"  Jesus,  beloved  Saviour  !  grant  that  I  may  become 
so,  more  and  more  every  day  I  live." 

"  Sept.  1  "2th. — Sighted  the  Crimea  at  daybreak, — kept 
steady  course  until  4  P.M., — then  altered  course  to  N.  by 
W.,  and  continued  so  for  one  hour,  when  the  Emperor 
again  steered  E.,  and  we  all  followed  her ; — land  right 
a-head,  at  5£, — stood  in  for  it, — men-of-war  getting 
to  the  front, — Arethusa  leading  in  a  dashing  manner. 
Most  of  them  anchored  about  eight  miles  off  shore  ;  we 
held  on  and  anchored,  in  the  order  specified,  at  7 
P.M.  A  most  beautiful  sunset,  the  last  rays  of  the  sun 
shooting  through  innumerable  summer  clouds  of  singu- 
lar loveliness, — a  fine  sandy  beach,  and  grass  land 
behind.  A  town  in  sight,  and  forts  at  the  water's  edge 
(uncertain)." 

"Thursday,  Sept.  I4<th. — Started  at  four  o'clock 
this  morning,  and  moved  again  twenty  miles  down 
the  coast,  nearer  to  Sebastopol ;  anchored  at  nine, 
having  got  into  a  nice  mess  just  before, — the  Simla, 
Pyrenees,  Colombo,  and  London  all  together  run- 
ning foul  of  each  other.  Fortunately  the  sea  was 
smooth  as  glass,  and  hardly  a  breath  of  wind  stirring, 
so  they  got  clear  without  damage.  The  French  landed 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  121 

first,  and  immediately  planted  the  Tricolor.  About 
two  miles  to  our  right,  our  first  boat  reached  the 
land  twenty  minutes  after,  right  opposite  us, — 7th 
Fusiliers  and  some  Sappers  in  her.  Many  more  fol- 
lowed immediately.  No  Eussian  troops  in  sight, 
except  a  Cossack  officer,  and  three  of  his  men,  quietly 
surveying  us  from  the  shore  with  a  telescope.  Herds 
of  cattle,  and  plenty  of  hay  to  be  seen,  and  a  village 
about  five  miles  off, — a  lake  immediately  behind  the 
landing  place.  We  are  about  seventeen  miles  from 
Sebastopol. 

"Friday,  Sept  loth. — The  men  on  shore  suffered  a 
good  deal  from  the  weather  during  the  night>  as  they 
had  no  tents.  A  heavy  surf  rolled  on  shore,  and  the 
ships  rode  so  uneasily  that  it  was  deemed  inexpedient 
to  land  the  horses,  and  accordingly  the  signal  was  made 
for  some  of  the  cavalry  and  artillery  transports  to 
prepare  to  get  under  way  ;  towards  mid-day,  how- 
ever, the  surf  abated  so  much  that  it  was  deter- 
mined to  land  us,  and  we  commenced  disembark- 
ing at  half-past  one  o'clock,  having  previously  put  all 
our  carriages  into  a  boat  or  flat,  and  taken  them  out 
again.  When  we  got  to  the  beach  with  my  No.  2  gun 
and  fourteen  horses,  the  surf  was  still  high,  but  the 
horses  stood  it  famously,  though  we  were  detained  in  it 
for  upwards  of  half-an-hour,  by  the  stage  on  which  they 
were  to  run  out  of  the  boats  unshipping.  At  last  we 
secured  it,  and  the  sailors,  tar-like,  stripped,  and  tak- 


122  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

ing  the  breakers  one  by  one,  swam  ashore  to  draw 
up  the  flat.  No  accident  of  any  kind  occurred ;  the 
sailors  took  the  horses  and  ran  them  down,  our  men 
pushing  them  from  behind.  At  half-past  three,  I  first 
set  foot  on  the  enemy's  land.  May  the  good  and  gra- 
cious Lord  bless,  preserve,  and  keep  me  while  here  1 
In  thousands  of  ways  He  has  blessed  me.  Oh  that  I 
may  seek  to  glorify  His  name,  may  watch  and  pray 
that  I  enter  not  into  temptation  !  We  landed  No.  1 
gun  just  before  dark,  and  had  hard  work,  getting  all 
square  for  the  night ;  but  the  men  worked  famously, 
and  by  ten  I  got  to  my  tent,  which  we  had  taken  care 
to  bring  on  shore,  and  three  more  for  the  men.  The 
night  was  fine,  and  we  were  undisturbed. 

"  Saturday,  September  1 6th. — All  astir  early — made 
inquiries  after  water,  which,  it  appears,  is  very  scarce- 
nobody  knew  anything  about  it ;  so  I  went  with  my 
men,  in  fatigue  dress,  saddles,  and  swords,  in  search  of 
some.  Saw  Colonel  Strangways.  Went  up  the  hill  to 
the  right,  and  out  towards  the  Light  Division.  Sa^y 
the  French  and  our  men  getting  water  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  lake,  and  went  there.  Waded  through  much  mud, 
and  when  we  tried  to  water  our  horses,  sank  in  the 
mud ;  so  I  turned  about  and  went  to  a  village  two  miles 
further  off,  and  there  got  water.  Fed  with  corn  in  the 
fields.  When  returning,  the  Duke  of  Cambridge  spoke 
to  me  about  the  horses,  and  admired  their  condition. 
When  I  got  back,  after  a  twelve-mile  ride,  found  we 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  ]  23 

were  wanted  to  go  out  with  Lord  Cardigan  and  all  the 
cavalry,  to  make  a  forced  reconnaissance.  Got  ready  in 
marching  order — three  days'  provisions — and  started 
at  1  P.M.  His  Lordship  took  us  fourteen  miles  in  an 
east  by  north  direction,  over  a  country  as  flat  as  a  bil- 
liard-table, without  a  ravine  or  hillock  of  any  kind,  or 
any  water ; — crossed  an  arm  of  the  sea.  Cavalry  lead- 
ing, guns  ready  to  open  while  they  crossed — a  village 
within  range,  where  Cossacks  were  supposed  to  be. 
Entered  the  village ;  only  one  or  two  Turks  to  be  seen. 
Went  on  to  another  village,  the  plain  gently  rising,  till 
we  attained  the  top,  and  had  a  most  extensive  view. 
I  never  saw  so  uninteresting  a  country.  We  could  see 
as  far  as  the  Putrid  Sea,  with  a  horizon  as  level  as 
the  sea  itself,  and  twenty  or  thirty  miles  towards  the 
south-east.  Not  a  Cossack  to  be  seen.  A  Turk  said 
that  three  days  before,  twelve  thousand  Eussian  cavalry 
had  passed  through  towards  Sebastopol.  (Don't  believe 
a  word  of  it,  as  they  could  get  no  water  in  such  a 
country.)  An  officer  set  the  example  of  plundering 
ducks  and  geese,  which  our  men  were  not  slow  to  fol- 
low. I  forbade  it,  and  made  them  disgorge.  We  after- 
wards bought  a  few  very  cheap — one  turkey,  four 
ducks,  and  one  chicken,  for  two  shillings.  Eggs  four- 
teen a-penny.  I  thought  this  good,  but  we  have  been 
outdone.  Lieutenant  Taddy  having  purchased  four- 
teen pigs  for  a  piastre  (twopence) !  ! !  Remained  an 
hour  at  this  village,  and  returned  by  the  same  road, 


124  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

which  appeared  endless,  now  the  chance  of  fighting 
was  gone. 

"Sunday,  September  Ylih. — What  a  Sabbath-day 
was  this  !  Work,  work  all  day.  No  time  for  anything 
but  work.  Thank  God,  He  enabled  nue  sometimes  to 
think  of  His  goodness,  and  to  bless  His  name  !  Saw 
Captain  Anderson  in  the  evening,  and  was  delighted 
to  have  a  few  words  of  serious  anc^  profitable  conver- 
sation with  him  ;  he  told  me  he  now  longed  more  than 
ever  to  glorify  God,  and  to  live  for  Him.  May  his 
prayers  be  answered,  for  Jesus'  sake ! 

"Monday,  September  18th. — Busy  getting  all  in 
order  for  to-morrow's  march.  Six  horses  joined  to  fill 
up  vacancies. 

"  Tuesday,  September  1 9th. — Marched  at  6  A.M., 
and  formed  in  order  of  march  at  the  outposts,  with  the 
rest  of  the  army.  Cavalry  leading,  I.  Troop  support- 
ing them, — the  several  divisions  of  infantry  in  double 
column  of  divisions,  according  to  seniority,  —  rifles 
bringing  up  the  rear.  Four  miles  before  us  we  saw  our 
enemies,  the  Russians.  At  first  a  few  Cossacks,  but 
presently  heavy  columns  of  cavalry,  were  seen  just  be- 
hind the  hills.  We  crossed  a  little  rivulet — guns  by  a 
bridge — cavalry  and  infantry  fording.  The  cavalry 
were  then  ordered  up  the  hill,  and  disappeared  from 
our  sight.  Presently  our  troop  and  Captain  Brand- 
ling's (C)  were  ordered  up  to  support  Lord  Lucan  and 
his  two  squadrons,  which  consisted  of  8th,  llth,  and 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  1  '25 

13th.  When  we  got  to  the  top,  we  found  on  the  op- 
posite ridge  several  masses  of  cavalry,  with  skirmishers 
out,  prepared  to  dispute  our  further  progress ; — they 
were  about  two  thousand  two  hundred  yards  off. 
We  formed  line  to  the  front,  and  halted  for  a  few 
minutes,  while  the  cavalry  advanced  eight  hundred 
yards,  to  allow  time  for  the  infantry  to  come  up ; — we 
had  some  rifles  w\fh  us.  The  infantry  came  up  quickly, 
and  formed  line  two  hundred  yards  behind  us  ; — while 
this  was  going  on  the  cavalry  advanced  still  further, 
throwing  out  skirmishers  ;  and  the  affair  commenced  by 
the  enemy's  skirmishers,  twice  as  numerous,  firing  at 
them.  They  did  not  reply,  being  out  of  range  of  car- 
bines. Our  two  squadrons  formed  across  the  road ; 
presently  down  came  ten  guns  and  began  firing  at  our 
squadrons  at  nine  hundred  yards'  range.  Lord  Raglan 
refused  to  allow  the  Horse- Artillery  to  fire,  as  he  said  it 
would  bring  on  a  general  action  ;  however,  after  seve- 
ral casualties  among  the  cavalry,  he  consented.  We 
galloped  to  the  front,  with  C  Troop,  and  came  into 
action — range  rather  long — however  we  peppered  them 
well ;  our  first  shot,  fired  by  No.  2,  pitched  into  a  gun, 
and  caused  a  quick  retreat  from  it — so  the  staff  say. 
We  then  limbered  up,  and  moved  to  the  left,  having 
silenced  the  guns  after  a  round  or  two,  and  caused 
them  to  retreat  with  the  cavalry.  The  enemy  extended 
their  right,  in  order  to  outflank  us,  but  were  now  with- 
out guns ;  so  we  pitched  shot  and  shell  right  into  their 


126  ACTIVE  SEEVICE. 

masses,  and  again  caused  them  to  retreat  out  of  range 
to  the  next  ridge.  Their  guns  were  8  or  12-pounders, 
and  the  shot  came  bounding  along  through  our  sub- 
divisions, and  over  our  heads;  however,  (thank  God!) 
we  suffered  no  loss.  Five  amputations  were  performed 
upon  poor  fellows  of  the  cavalry,  and  they  lost  five 
horses.  One  shell  burst  in  the  stomach  of  a  horse — 
we  found  on  the  field  four  men  and  five  horses  dead 
of  the  enemy,  but  afterwards  ascertained  that  their 
casualties  amounted  to  thirty-two  men  and  thirty-five 
horses.  This  action  goes  by  the  name  of  '  the  Cavalry 
Affair  of  Bulgarnac/ 

"  Wednesday,  September  20th. — We  marched  from 
our  encampment  at  Bulgarnac  at  9  A.M. — passed 
several  dead  men  and  horses  where  the  Russian  guns 
had  been.  At  eleven  we  arrived  within  three  miles  of 
the  Russian  army,  and  halted  for  half-an-hour,  while 
our  generals  reconnoitred  their  position.  It  was 
evidently  one  of  enormous  strength,  and  was  well 
chosen,  as  the  Russians  had  every  advantage  over 
their  opponents.  The  river  Alma  flowed  along  their 
entire  front;  and  on  its  banks  were  the  upper,  lower,  and 
middle  villages  of  Alma.  Trees  and  vineyards  abound- 
ed also,  and  tended  to  conceal  the  enemy's  riflemen, 
while  they  seriously  impeded  our  advance.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  river  the  ground  sloped  upwards  in  a 
kind  of  natural  glacis  for  three  quarters  of  a  mile. 
The  heights  were  crowned  with  intrenchments,  and 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  127 

defended  by  many  guns.  On  the  left  of  their  position 
the  ground  was  veiy  precipitous,  and  on  their  right  it 
sloped  gently  off ;  but  the  river  was  deeper  higher  up, 
and  we  could  not  turn  their  right  without  becoming  sepa- 
rated from  the  French.  It  was,  with  great  judgment, 
determined  to  attack  in  front ;  for  the  French,  who  were 
on  the  right,  had  thus  the  support  of  their  steamers, 
which  shelled  the  heights  opposite  their  right  flank 
most  beautifully  during,  the  whole  of  the  attack,  at  a 
range  of  about  3000  yards.  The  Turks,  7000  strong, 
supported,  or  formed  the  French  reserve.  We  had  the 
post  of  honour  given  to  us,  on  the  left  of  our  allies,  to 
attack  the  village  of  Alnia,  and  storm  the  strongest 
part  of  the  Russian  position,  where  all  their  intreuch- 
nieuts  were,  and  the  greater  part  of  their  forces  drawn 
up.  The  strength  of  the  Russian  army  is  estimated 
at  40,000  infantry,  12,000  cavalry,  and  108  guns. 
The  battle  began  by  the  advance  of  the  French  at  half- 
past  twelve  o'clock,  the  fleet  shelling  the  Russian  heights. 
We  were  halted  just  out  of  range,  and  had  time  to 
admire  the  glorious  scene.  The  sun  shone  with  un- 
clouded rays  ;  which,  (reflected  from  thousands  of 
bayonets,  swords,  helmets,  and  ornaments,)  together 
with  the  celerity  of  the  French  movements,  the  steadi- 
ness of  the  Russians,  and  the,  imposing,  yet  quiet, 
appearance  of  our  own  columns,  presented  a  scene 
seldom  to  be  equalled,  never  excelled.  The  French 
shells  burst  with  wondrous  accuracy,  which  called  forth 


1  28  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

continuous  expressions  of  astonishment :  they  must 
have  done  great  execution.  The  English  ships  looked 
on  in  dignified  silence.  At  last,  when  the  French  had 
had  half-an-hour's  start  of  us,  the  order  to  stand  to  our 
arms  was  passed  along  our  columns,  and  we  were 
instantly  in  the  saddle.  We  had  not  advanced  many 
hundred  yards,  when  a  24-pounder  shot  came  booming 
along,  and  the  white  wreath  of  smoke  ascended  from 
the  centre  intrenchment,  which  commanded  several 
roads.  It  only  just  reached  us,  and  did  no  harm. 
Presently  Mini£  bullets  began  to  whiz  about  us  rather 
thick,  and  the  order  was  given  for  the  columns  of 
attack  to  deploy  into  line ;  the  Rifles,  as  skirmishers, 
getting  well  to  the  front.  The  enemy's  Riflemen  were 
covered  by  the  trees,  and  walls  of  the  villages;  but 
though  ours  were  at  first  entirely  without  cover,  they 
quickly  forced  the  former  to  retreat  across  the  river. 
The  Light  and  1st  Divisions  formed  the  first  line — the 
7th  Fusiliers  on  the  right,  and  the  Highlanders  on  the 
left.  The  2nd  and  3rd  Divisions  formed  the  second 
line,  and  the  4th  in  reserve.  The  Field  Batteries  and 
C  Troop  were  with  their  respective  Divisions ;  the 
Cavalry  in  two  lines  on  the  left,  with  our  troop  of 
Royal  Horse-Artillery. 

"  The  enemy's  guns  were  of  very  large  calibre,  and 
were  well  served,  the  ranges  well  known,  and  the  ground 
marked  with  posts.  Their  shot  reached  to  great  dis- 
tances, and  did  much  execution.  We  lost  a  shaft  horse 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  129 

from  a  1 2-pound  shot  when  we  were  on  the  extreme 
left — the  range  must  have  been,  at  least,  three  thousand 
yards.  Our  Riflemen  having  splendidly  driven  back 
the  Russian  skirmishers  to  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
the  line  advanced  to  its  edge,  and  our  field  batteries, 
which  had  till  then  been  silent,  opened  a  heavy  and 
effective  fire,  under  cover  of  which  our  men  crossed  the 
river  with  a  rush,  and  re-formed  under  the  steep  bank 
at  the  other  side,  where  they  were,  to  some  extent, 
defended  from  the  severe  artillery  fire  from  the  in- 
trenchments.  Between  the  bank  and  these  intrench- 
ments  was  a  sloping  plateau  of,  at  least,  twelve  hundred 
yards,  but  nothing  daunted,  our  incomparable  infantry, 
having  re-formed,  and  had  a  moment's  breathing  time, 
suddenly  appeared  in  line  on  its  further  edge,  and,  led 
in  the  most  gallant  style  by  their  officers,  the  19th, 
23rd,  33rd  and  95th  rushed  up  the  slope. 

"  Instantly  grape  and  cannister  poured  through  and 
through  them,  sweeping  down  whole  sections  at  a  time. 
They  broke,  but  not  to  turn  ;  on,  onwards  they  pressed, 
halting  only  occasionally  for  an  instant  to  make  some 
return  in  answer  to  the  dreadful  fire  which  had  now 
decimated  their  ranks.  At  this  critical  moment,  when 
our  fire  from  the  north  side  of  the  river  was  necessarily 
becoming  more  slack  for  fear  of  injuring  our  own  men, 
a  battery  (Captain  Turner's)  having  succeeded  in 
crossing  to  the  other  side,  galloped  up  the  slope  on 

their  flank,  and  began  to  enfilade,  with  a  most  effective 

I 


1 30  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

fire,  the  guns  in  the  main  intrenchment.  The  fire  of 
the  latter  now  gradually  slackened,  and  the  Russians 
began  to  remove  their  guns  and  retire.  Some,  however, 
still  remained,  and  our  gallant  red-coats,  feeling  the 
good  effects  of  Captain  Turner's  movements,  again 
rushed  on,  stormed  the  intrenchment,  put  every  Russian 
to  the  sword,  and  took  two  guns.  Great  was  the  cheer- 
ing from  the  whole  army  when  the  British  colours 
floated  from  the  parapet  of  the  work.  At  this  time 
the  French  appeared  on  the  top  of  the  hill  to  the  right, 
and  began  to  fire  on  the  Russian  columns  in  retreat, 
but  from  some  unexplained  cause  they  left  off  firing  in 
a  very  short  time,  and  thus  only  rendered  half  the 
assistance  they  might  have  done.  While  all  this  battle 
was  going  on,  we  were  kept  standing  at  ease  on  the 
left  flank,  watching  a  very  large  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  on  the  other  side  of  the  river;  now,  how- 
ever, the  order  at  last  arrived  for  us  to  advance,  and 
down  we  went  at  a  trot,  through  the  upper  village  of 
Alma,  and  along  a  narrow  lane,  the  intrenchment  at  the 
top  of  the  hill  right  opposite  still  firing  shot  and  shell. 
In  this  lane,  unfortunately  to  all  appearance,  but  not 
so  as  it  afterwards  turned  out,  two  of  our  guns  upset, 
and  delayed  us  for  ten  minutes.  No.  1  gun  which  got 
through  safe  was  thus  detained  on  our  side  of  the  river 
and  under  cover  of  the  steep  bank  of  the  other  side. 
While  there,  we  saw  several  shells  burst  in  the  very 
ravine  we  were  to  have  gone  through ; — this  firing  lasted 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  131 

the  whole  time  we  were  waiting  for  the  gun,  and  ceased 
just  as  we  got  the  order  to  advance.  Up  we  went  with 
the  llth,  and,  when  on  the  plateau,  pushed  our  horses 
into  a  gallop,  and  away  we  went  at  a  rattling  pace.  We 
got  to  the  top  just  in  time,  and  saw  a  column  of  infan- 
try and  artillery  retiring  up  the  ravine  in  front  about 
eleven  hundred  yards  off.  We  came  into  action  at 
once,  and  plied  them  with  shot  and  shell  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  and  did  great  execution.  We  were  the  only 
artillery  that  fired  on  this  column,  and  yet  the  next 
day  we  found  there  upwards  of  two  hundred  dead 
bodies  ;  so  that  allowing  for  the  proportion  of  wounded, 
their  loss  at  this  point  must  have  been  great.  That 
they  suffered  severely  from  our  fire  was  evident 
because,  though  in  retreat,  they  brought  a  12-pouiider 
battery  into  action  on  the  opposite  ridge,  out  of  range 
of  our  6-pounders,  and  began  to  fire  at  us ;  not,  however, 
before  we  had  ceased  firing  at  their  column  as  being 
out  of  range,  and  were  limbering  up  to  retire. 

"  Captain  Maude  begged  of  Lord  Lucan  and  Sir 
Colin  Campbell  to  be  allowed  to  advance  down  the 
hill,  but  Sir  Colin  said  Lord  Raglan's  positive  orders 
were  that  no  one  should  go  beyond  the  ridge  on  which 
we  then  were.  Had  we  then  been  allowed  to  advance 
with  the  cavalry,  we  must  have  taken  many  guns  and 
prisoners,  and  inflicted  severe  loss  on  their  rear. 
Neither  Wellington  nor  Napoleon  would  have  stopped 
short  at  this  point. 


132  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

"  "When  we  retired,  we  found  the  Highlanders  in  line 
on  our  flank,  they  cheered  us  lustily,  to  which  we  as 
heartily  responded.  The  Duke  of  Cambridge,  who 
witnessed  our  advance  up  the  slope,  told  General 
Strangways  that  Captain  Maude's  troop  came  up  the 
hill  and  into  action  in  the  most  gallant  style.  After 
resting  for  half-an-hour,  and  feeding,  we  again 
advanced, — the  Russians  being  sufficiently  far  off, — 
went  down  the  hill,  and  up  the  next  ridge  more  to  the 
right ;  the  whole  army  soon  followed,  and  we  found  our- 
selves on  a  table-land  seven  miles  by  one-and-a-half. 
The  Russians  had  now  re-formed  on  the  nearest  line 
of  hills  ;  no  pursuit  was  allowed,  and  we  retired  to 
rest,  tired  out  with  our  day's  work,  and  deeply  thank- 
ful to  Him  who  had  given  to  our  arms  so  glorious  a 
victory." 

"  Thursday,  September  21  st. — Having  hurt  my  leg  a 
good  deal,  and  suffered  much  pain,  was  scarcely  able  to  go 
from  our  camp  at  all  to-day.  The  field  of  battle  was  still 
strewed  with  dead,  wounded,  and  dying  men.  Many 
of  the  33rd  regiment  were  without  medical  assistance 
during  the  whole  night.  As  for  the  poor  Russians 
who  thickly  covered  the  ground  at  all  the  principal 
points,  they,  of  course,  had  to  wait  till  our  own  men 
had  been  attended  to,  and  most  patiently  they  endured 
their  dreadful  sufferings.  One  group  I  went  to  with 
our  surgeon,  consisted  of  five,  out  of  which  number 
four  had  to  undergo  amputations ;  yet  they  sat  or  lay 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  133 

together,  without  uttering  a  groan,  or  shewing  the  least 
impatience.  I  assisted  Thornton  to  take  off  a  leg,  hold- 
ing the  arteries,  while  he  tied  them. 

"  Despatches  with  the  news  of  the  victory  were  this 
day  sent  home,  but  we  were  unable  to  write,  having  so 
much  to  do.  The  bodies  of  English  and  Russians — 
foes  while  living — now  lay  peacefully  together  in 
every  conceivable  attitude  of  death.  In  the  main 
intrenchment  at  least  five  hundred  were  lying  together. 
Some  had  both  hands  clasped  in  the  attitude  of  prayer, 
one  with  his  left  arm  broken,  had  the  right  extended 
upwards  as  if  he  prayed.  ....  It  was  a  sickening 
and  horrible  sight ;  and  I  rode  away,  now  fully  im- 
pressed with  a  sense  of  the  awful  calamity  of  war. 
May  God  in  His  goodness  teach  us  to  be  merciful  to 
our  enemies,  and  soon  bring  to  a  close  this  awful 
war." 

"Monday,  September  2oth. — Marched  at  8  A.M. 
along  the  main  road,  turned  to  the  left  about  three 
miles  from  the  fortress,  and  went  along  a  very  narrow 
road,  making  it  wider  with  our  wheels.  The  road  led 
through  the  bush.  The  cavalry  soon  took  the  wrong 
road,  which  Maude  found  out  at  once,  and  halted  his 
troop.  Providential  it  was  that  he  did  so,  for  had  he 
gone  on  without  escort,  we  should  have  found  ourselves, 
with  six  guns,  opposed  to  the  rear-guard  of  Menschi- 
koffs  army.  He  sent  me  back  to  inform  Lord  Raglan, 
but  I  missed  him  in  the  wood,  and  galloped  back  along 


134  ACTIVE  SERVICE. 

the  road,  looking  for  him.  I  retraced  my  steps  to  a 
house  where  I  had  last  seen  him,  and  there  asked  which 
road  Lord  Raglan,  had  taken.  They  all  said  he  went 
down  the  road  to  the  left,  which  I  thought  very  odd  ; 
but,  with  an  officer  on  the  Quartermaster-General's 
Staff,  I  went  down.  He  presently  stopped  to  water 
his  horse;  I  rode  on,  and  at  last  found  myself  in 
Sebastopol,  at  the  head  of  the  harbour,  not  five  hun- 
dred yards  from  one  of  their  steamers.  I  was  quite 
astonished,  and  looked  around  me  in  wonder.  There 
was  a  long  low  line  of  fortification  before  me,  about  a 
thousand  yards  off.  As  I  stopped  my  horse  to  look, 
three  Minie'  bullets  came  whistling  about  me,  and  I 
heard  the  reports  not  far  off.  I  put  spurs  to  my  horse, 
and  galloped  off  round  the  corner.  When  I  got  back 
to  the  troop,  I  found  them  about  one  mile  in  advance  of 
where  I  had  left  them,  and  was  told  that  the  Russians 
were  in  force  in  our  front,  and  not  more  than  three 
hundred  yards  off.  The  guns  were  at  once  brought  into 
action,  but  we  found  that  the  enemy  was  retreating. 

"  Tuesday,  September  26th. — Marched  to  Balaklava, 
and  encamped  amongst  vineyards  and  orchards.  Bala- 
klava taken  chiefly  by  C.  Troop. 

"  Wednesday,  September  27th. — Marched  up  to  the 
heights  of  Sebastopol.  The  whole  army  made  a  demon- 
stration above  the  town.  Got  into  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence and  outhouses.  It  had  been  sacked  by  the 
Cossacks,  and  all  the  furniture  destroyed. 


ACTIVE  SERVICE.  1 35 

"Thursday,  September  28th. — Russians  fire  occa- 
sionally at  our  lines. 

"  Friday,. September  29th. — Went  up  the  hill  with 
General  Burgoyne,  to  make  a  reconnaissance,  within 
two  thousand  yards  of  the  fortress.  As  we  were  ad- 
vancing, General  Airey  was  sent  for  by  Lord  Raglan, 
and  the  reconnaissance  was  at  an  end.  Russians  threat- 
ening our  rear." 

"Sunday,  October  1st. — Maude  read  service  at  our 
bivouac  at  the  Poplars/' 

"  Tuesday,  October  3rd. — Ordered  back  to  Bala- 
klava,  Lord  Raglan  wanting  our  house  for  head- 
quarters. Our  troop  required  to  protect  the  cavalry." 

"  Saturday,  October  fth. — An  orderly  galloped  round 
by  our  camp  at  5^  A.M.,  ordering  us  to  turn  out 
at  once,  our  outposts  being  engaged.  We  were  on 
parade  in  twenty  minutes.  Advanced  with  all  the 
cavalry  to  the  front,  our  videttes  firing  all  the  time. 
Our  outposts  at  last  retired.  We  were  halted  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  under  cover  of  the  ridge,  while  Lord 
Lucan  and  staff  went  forward  to  reconnoitre.  We  were 
presently  ordered  up  by  Maude.  The  moment  the  Rus- 
sians saw  our  now  well-known  troop  coming  over  the  hill, 
they  turned  and  fled; — twelve  hundred  cavalry  retreat- 
ing before  six  guns.  We  came  quickly  into  action,  and 
gave  them  a  round  or  two,  but  the  distance  was  too 
great.  We  then  directed  our  attention  to  five  hundred 
more  on  the  hill  opposite,  and  fired  ;  but  some  of  the 


1 36  ACTIVE  SEKV1CE. 

staff  calling  out,  '  These  are  French,'  we  left  off  firing, 
and  they  retreated  in  time.  The  cavalry  are  much 
disgusted  with  this  affair.  Lord  Lucan  has  ordered  a 
parade  for  the  cavalry  and  our  troop  every  morning 
at  5  A.M." 


CHAPTER  X. 


1  Hast  Thou  not  given  Thy  word 
To  save  my  soul  from  death  ? 
And  I  can  trust  my  Lord 
To  keep  my  mortal  breath. 
I  '11  go  and  come, 
Nor  fear  to  die, 
Till  from  on  high 
Thou  call  me  home." 


ON  the  19th  of  October,  Mr  Vandeleur  was  seized 
with  a  serious  attack  of  fever  and  ague ;  and  on  the 
21st,  was  sent  on  board  the  Shooting  Star,  off  Bala- 
klava. 

"  Tuesday,  October  24<th. — Spent  a  most  awful  night, 
— frightful  dreams.  When  I  awoke,  felt  quite  paralyzed ; 
unable  to  move  hand  or  foot;  began  to  be  alarmed  about 
myself,  but  found  great  comfort  when  I  thought  of  the 
promises  of  God  to  me,  and  His  great  mercy  hitherto. 
This  made  me  trust  Him  now  with  all  my  heart. 

"  Wednesday,  October  25th — A  sad  day  for  the  army. 
Troops  on  parade  as  usual  at  five.  The  parade  was 
about  to  break  up  at  eight,  when  the  videttes  began 
to  circle  right  and  left,  and  immediately  retired.  The 
Russians  were  now  seen  coming  in  force  on  our  right 
front,  and  the  Turks  (the  cowardly  rascals)  in  charge 
of  the  five  forts  on  the  ridge  and  hills,  left  all  our  guns 
loaded,  and  bolted  without  even  firing  a  shot,  or  spiking 
a  single  gun.  The  Russians  of  course  at  once  took 
possession  of  all  these  forts,  and  turned  the  magnificent 


140  THE  HOSPITAL. 

guns  in  them  upon  us,  and  pounded  us  well.  This  was  a 
severe  and  dreadful  blow  to  us,  who  depended  on  the 
Turks  keeping  them  against  any  odds.  How  misplaced 
was  our  confidence,  the  result  proved ;  and  dearly  bought 
was  the  experience.  The  Russian  cavalry,  encouraged 
by  this  unexpected  success,  now  advanced  boldly  in  great 
force,  at  least  five  or  six  thousand  strong,  and  were 
supported  by  the  fire  of  the  forts.  The  only  artillery 
we  had  at  first,  to  oppose  them,  was  our  troop  and 
Barker's  Battery ;  we  opened  fire  at  once  upon  them, 
and  of  course  with  effect ;  our  cavalry  now  formed  up 
in  line,  charged  them  successively  by  regiments,  and  at 
last  succeeded  in  driving  them  back.  Nothing  could 
exceed  the  gallantry  of  our  cavalry,  or  the  impetuosity 
of  their  charges,  they  fought  the  foe  for  the  first  time 
to-day.  The  Greys  were  particularly  remarked  during 
two  splendid  charges.  Having  driven  the  cavalry  back 
with  loss,  we  now  began  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  fire 
of  the  redoubts,  and  the  cavalry  were  ordered  to  retake 
them.  A  strange  order!  Cavalry  to  retake  forts!! 
However,  our  Light  Brigade  went  at  them,  and  succeeded 
in  getting  three  of  them  from  the  enemy,  but  the  guns 
were  gone,  our  splendid  guns !  thirty  guns  taken  of 
ours !  Enough  to  break  an  artilleryman's  heart,  and 
all  through  those  rascals,  the  Turks. 

"Thursday,  October  26th. — Sailed  from  Balaklava 
for  Scutari" 


THE  HOSPITAL.  141 

Mr  Vandeleur  arrived  at  Scutari  Hospital,  seriously 
ill ;  and  was  entirely  disabled  from  returning  to  active 
service  until  the  following  December. 

As  strength  began  to  return,  he  resumed  his  journal, 
and  united  his  testimony  with  thousands  of  others,  to  the 
wonder-working  genius  and  self-sacrificing  benevolence 
of  that  noble  and  heroic  woman,  whose  name  is  ever 
breathed  by  the  British  soldier  with  blessings  which 
find  an  echo  in  every  British  heart. 

Who  can  read  the  oft-told  story,  and  not  pray,  God 
bless  FLORENCE  NIGHTINGALE  !  God  grant  her,  if  yet 
it  may  be,  renewed  health  for  a  continuance  of  her 
devoted  labours  for  the  soldier's  benefit.  Or,  if  that  be 
denied  to  a  nation's  prayers,  God  grant  to  her,  who,  "  in 
feeding  the  lamp  of  charity,"  has  well-nigh  exhausted 
the  lamp  of  life,  in  the  darkness  of  her  chamber  of  sick- 
ness, to  realise  the  glorious  presence  of  her  Divine 
Redeemer;  the  Man  who  has  suffered,  the  God  who 
saves. 

"  Saturday,  December  2nd — Still  at  Scutari,  and  in 
the  same  room  with  Maude  and  Yates — Yates  very  ill 
with  low  fever.  Anxious  to  get  back  to  the  Crimea,  as 
I  now  feel  quite  well.  Applied  for  a  passage  to  Major 
Sillery,  and  sent  in  a  medical  certificate  of  my  recovery 
from  Mr  Munn,  who  has  been  so  very  kind  and  atten- 
tive to  us  all  No  vessel  going  up. 

"Sunday,  December  3rd. — Enjoyed  the  inestimable 


142  THE  HOSPITAL. 

privilege  of  again  partaking  of  the  Holy  Communion — • 
service  read  by  Mr  Sabin,  Mr  Freeman,  and  Mr  Lawless. 
Two  of  the  clergymen  now  attached  to  the  hospital  are, 
I  know,  excellent  men,  who  devote  themselves  to  the 
welfare  and  comfort  of  the  sufferers.  There  are  seven 
chaplains  here,  and  eleven  with  the  army/' 

"  Wednesday,  December  6th. — Went  to  see  Taswell 
in  the  hospital — great  difficulty  in  finding  him  ; — he  is 
fast  recovering,  and  very  cheerful.  While  there,  Miss 
Nightingale  appeared  outside,  attended  by  one  of  her 
nurses,  and  talked  for  some  time  to  a  wounded  man  of 
the  13th  Light  Dragoons.  No  one  in  the  room  but 
myself  had  seen  her.  She  is  no  enthusiast,  but  a 
woman  of  uncommon  energy  of  mind,  and  strength  of 
character ;  no  one  can  help  admiring  and  respecting 
her,  for  she  devotes  her  whole  time  and  attention  to 
the  work  of  charity  which  she  has  undertaken ;  and  a 
wonderful  reformation  has  taken  place  in  almost  every 
department  since  her  arrival.  She  has  shirts  distri- 
buted to  all  new  comers, — clean  sheets  given  to  those 
who  require  them — has  engaged  cooks  for  the  sick 
officers,  so  that  they  can  have  everything  they  wish  for, 
cooked  at  any  hour ;  and  many  similar  improvements 
have  taken  place. 

"  Thursday,  December  7th. — Mrs  Morris,  wife  of 
Captain  Morris,  17th  Lancers,  so  very  kind  to  me  to- 
day. Though  a  perfect  stranger,  she  gave  me  two  tins 
of  chocolate  and  a  basin,  and  some  silks,  &c.,  to  take 


THE  HOSPITAL.  143 

to  the  Crimea,  saying  she  had  brought  them  for  her 
husband,  but  being  of  no  use  to  him,  as  he  returns 
home,  I  might  have  them.  Captain  Hastings  of  the 
Curagoa,  also  most  kindly  offered  me  a  passage  with 
him  to  the  Crimea,  and  told  me  to  be  on  board  on 
Saturday  morning.  This  I  most  gladly  accepted. 

"  Friday,  December  8th. — Busy  shopping,  and  pre- 
paring for  my  departure  to-morrow.  Tins  of  mar- 
m  i  lade,  pots  of  anchovy,  and  other  pastes,  tongues,  bis- 
cuits, sauces,  butter,  and  chocolate,  being  the  edibles ; 
fur  coats,  India-rubber  coat,  long  boots  of  .Russian 
leather,  being  the  clothing  most  in  request.  Got  also 
a  cotton-wool  quilt,  a  substitute  for  eider  down  ;  bought 
also  a  pair  of  long  boots  for  Anderson — capital  things. 
Cavalry  soldiers  ought  to  have  no  others.  It  would  be 
much  better,  too,  if  the  infantry  soldier  had  something 
of  the  same  kind,  only  made  of  lighter  material,  and 
not  to  come  up  so  high.  At  camp  the  mud  is  almost 
knee-deep,  and  they  find  it  next  to  impossible  to  dry 
their  trousers. 

"Saturday,  December  9th. — Packed  up  my  traps, 
and  went  on  board  H.M.  Steam  Frigate  Curagoa,  31 
guns,  at  9  A.M. — we  sailed  at  twelve.  Captain  Hast- 
ings exceedingly  kind,  has  given  me  half  of  his  outer 
cabin  to  myself,  and  makes  me  dine  with  him.  I  swing 
my  cot  in  the  evening  at  eight,  and  it  is  taken  down 
before  breakfast. 

"Sunday,  December  IQth. — Towed  a  ship  through 


THE  HOSPITAL. 

the  Bosphorus.  Making  9*8  knots  this  morning,  hav- 
ing set  fore  and  aft  sails.  At  noon,  one  hundred  miles 
from  Balaklava.  The  captain  has  prayers  every  morn- 
ing and  evening. 

"To-day  we  had  service  at  10£  A.M.  He  makes 
attendance  voluntary.  Few  sailors  came,  but  all  the 
officers,  boys,  and  most  of  the  marines,  were  present. 
Service  full,  except  Litany — impressively  read  by  the 
chaplain,  and  short  sermon.  It  is  a  delightful  thing 
to  see  those  in  such  absolute  authority  aiming  in  ail 
they  do  to  glorify  God.  Captain  Hastings  is  indeed  a 
Christian  man  :  kind  and  affable  in  his  manner — no 
quarter-deck  humbug — and  much  unaffected  humility. 
Sunday  School  for  the  Naval  Cadets  in  the  chaplain's 
cabin — what  an  example !  He  lent  me  a  valuable 
work  on  Christian  retirement ;  by  whom,  I  know  not, 
as  the  title-page  is  out. 

"Monday,  December  \\iti. — Made  the  land  soon 
after  daybreak,  and  we  cast  off  the  Barque,  and  lay- 
to  at  11  A.M.  I  went  with  Webb  in  the  jolly-boat 
ashore  ;  he  for  orders,  I  to  learn  news.  Saw  Anderson 
on  the  wharf — he  is  looking  well — he  is  Commissary 
of  Ordnance  now.  Met  Shakespear,  and  went  out  to 
the  troop,  one  and  a  half  mile  north-west  of  Balaklava, 
Found  them  admirably  situated,  as  far  as  protection 
from  the  weather  is  concerned,  on  a  little  hill,  sur- 
rounded by  much  higher  ones — the  cavalry  close  to, 


THE  HOSPITAL.  145 

and  the  French  on  the  heights  above  us.  The  roads 
dreadful  even  now — what  must  they  be  in  wet  weather? 
Our  troop  looks  much  better  than  I  expected — horses 
thin  and  ragged,  but  not  starving ;  men  satisfied,  and 
not  overworked ;  officers  fat,  and  good-humoured ! 
Returned  to  the  Curafoa,  and  got  my  traps  on  shore/' 

It  is  from  the  journals  and  letters  of  others  that  we 
chiefly  learn  how,  as  soon  as  he  began  to  recover  from 
his  own  illness,  Arthur  Vandeleur  devoted  himself  to 
reading  the  Bible,  and  speaking  words  of  consolation 
to  the  sick  and  dying  men  in  Scutari  Hospital ;  and  in 
like  manner,  when  in  the  Crimea,  he  was  continually 
to  be  found  by  the  side  of  the  wounded,  bringing  help 
and  comfort  both  for  body  and  souL 


CHAPTER  XL 


"  Few,  few  shall  part  where  many  meet, 
The  snow  shall  be  their  winding-sheet, 
And  ev'ry  turf  beneath  their  feet 
Shall  be  a  soldier's  sepulchre." 


DTJEING  that  terrible  time,  every  fresh  account  from 
the  Crimea  concentrated  upon  our  army  all  sympathy 
and  thought  at  home  ;  and  numerous  were  the  schemes 
formed  for  alleviating  sufferings  borne  by  oUr  noble 
soldiers,  with  such  heroic  fortitude  as,  in  the  mere 
retrospect,  still  sends  through  otir  hearts  a  throb 
of  pain  with  a  thrill  of  triumph.  One  day,  when  a 
bale  of  warm  clothing  and  of  books  was  in  process 
of  packing  at  Beckenham  Rectory,  our  ever-welcome 
and  honoured  friend,  Colonel  Anderson,  arrived  from 
Woolwich,  and  inspected  the  goods  with  kindly  and 
cheering  commendations  as  to  the  selection.  After 
noticing  parcels  of  books  addressed  to  friends  of  ours 
in  several  different  regiments,  "  And  will  you  not  send 
some,"  he  asked,  "  to  the  Royal  Artillery  ?  *  On  our 
inquiring  to  whose  care  they  might  be  sent,  he  at 
once  named  his  young  friend,  Mr  Vandeleur ;  and, 
after  describing  him  in  language  of  tender  admiration 
and  regard,  he  added,  "And  will  you  write  to  him, 
when  you  send  the  parcel?  He  would  greatly  value 
a  letter  from  you,  and  you  will  find  that  his  is  indeed 


150  THE  SIEGE. 

a  lovely  young  spirit  to  enter  into  Christian  communion 
with." 

From  that  date  commenced  a  correspondence,  which 
rapidly  ripened  into  a  friendship  of  no  ordinary  charm 
and  value  to  me.  To  him  it  seemed,  as  time  proved  its 
truth,  to  answer,  -in  some  little  measure,  the  constant 
yearnings  of  his  orphaned  heart  for  an  affection  which 
should  recall  to  him,  however  faintly,  a  mother's  love 
and  care. 

He  answered  my  letter  whilst  ill  of  fever  in  Scutari 
Hospital ;  and  brightly  and  warmly  grateful  was  his 
ready  response  to  it.  Often  did  he  refer  to  it  after- 
wards, as  the  "  morning  star  of  our  friendship/'  But 
it  was  not  until  that  last  long  conversation,  already 
alluded  to,  which  he  held  with  me  a  few  days  before 
his  death,  that  I  heard  from  his  own  lips  that  he  owed, 
under  the  blessing  of  God,  to  that  letter,  his  enjoyment 
of  the  full  liberty  of  the  children  of  God,  the  undoubt- 
ing  and  abiding  assurance  of  the  forgiveness  of  sins  to 
the  believer  in  Jesus. 

Enclosed  in  that  letter  was  a  note  of  introduction 
for  him  to  Captain  Vicars,  97th  Regiment ;  which  he 
delivered  immediately  on  his  return  to  the  Crimea. 
This  introduction  resulted  in  a  brief  but  blessed  friend- 
ship, ending,  in  four  short  months,  with  Hedley  Vicars' 
death.  "Ending!"  Oh  no,  not  ending  !  That  which 
came  from  Heaven  must  return  thither.  Like  water,  it 
must  find  its  level.  Like  the  living  water,  poured  from 


THE  SIEGE.  151 

the  eternal  centre  into  the  mortal  heart  of  man,  and 
springing  up  again,  with  that  dying  life  absorbed  into 
it,  unto  life  everlasting.  Such  Christian  friendship  as 
that  of  Hedley  Vicars  and  Arthur  Vandeleur  is  im- 
mortal likewise. 

If  our  state  in  this  world  be  but  the  infancy  to  the 
glorious  maturity  promised  us  beyond  the  grave,  shall 
we 'forget,  in  the  manhood  of  the  soul,  the  friends  of  our 
childhood  ?  Did  He  who  is  the  type  and  head  of  all 
humanity,  who  has  combined  and  concentrated  in  Him- 
self the  double  nature,  the  tenderness  of  the  woman 
with  the  strength  of  the  man,  did  He  forget  His  own 
familiar  friends,  in  His  resurrection  life  ? 

Had  He  not  a  heart  for  penitent  Peter ;  and  an  ap- 
propriating love  for  John,  from  the  time  of  His  various 
appearances  after  His  rising  from  the  dead,  to  the  date 
of  His  withdrawing  the  beloved  apostle  from  the  arena 
of  missionary  duty  to  the  exile  of  Patmos,  there  to  re- 
veal Himself  to  the  Seer's  enraptured  eye  ? 

And  was  not  the  conficlatioii  given  by  St  Paul  to  the 
Thessalonian  mourners,  weeping  over  open  graves,  an 
assured  hope  of  mutual  recognition  for  renewed  and 
delightful  intercourse  with  their  "  dead  in  Christ,"  in 
a  new  and  glorified  life,  when  he  assured  them  that 
they  should  be  "  caught  up  TOGETHER  WITH  THEM  in  the 
clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air."  Together,  and  not 
recognising  each  other,  like  friends  that  meet  in  mist, 
and  that  mist  for  ever  unsunned  away !  Could  the 


152  THE  SIEGE. 

apostle  have  ventured  with  such  feeble  bands  to  bind 
up  broken  hearts — or  to  offer  such  a  hope  as  the  great 
message  of  comfort  from  Him  ?  For  those  two  noble 
friends,  then,  so  manly  and  so  tender  in  heart,  so  chival- 
rous in  spirit,  and  so  full  of  Christianity's  genial  and 
cheerful  love,  who  first  met  and  parted  in  the  dreary 
night  of  war,  and  starlike  threw  a  light  upon  its  gloom, 
what  a  meeting  can  we  imagine  ! 

"Within  a  land  of  pure  delight, 

Where  saints  immortal  reign, 
Infinite  day  excludes  the  night, 
And  pleasures  banish  pain." 

"Saturday,  December  IGth. — A  dreadful  day  for 
the  horses  ;  hail,  rain,  and  snow  all  the  morning,  with  a 
bitterly  cold  wind.  Three  of  our  horses  died  during 
the  night.  The  men  have  hard  work  in  clearing  the 
mud  away.  Had  stones  put  in  front  of  the  horses  to 
put  the  hay  on,  and  others  to  keep  the  saddles  out  of 
the  mud.  Ordered  No.  1  to  close  in  their  horses  to  the 
centre  after  grooming  them,  to  give  them  the  benefit  of 
mutual  heat  and  some  little  shelter.  The  roads  are 
covered  with  dead  horses,  mules,  and  bullocks." 

"  Tuesday,  December  19th. — The  long-expected  mail 
has  arrived,  bringing  me  several  most  welcome  letters. 
Fifteen  suits  of  warm  clothing  for  the  horses  received  j 
also  bales  of  blankets,  and  the  clothing  for  the  men  due 
next  April.  Old  England  is  at  last  roused  to  a  sense 
of  our  misfortunes,  and  is  determined  to  atone  for  her 
dilatorinefis  by  her  liberality," 


THE  SIEGE.  153 

"  Saturday,  December  23rc?. — Eode  the  Czar  to  the 
front  to  see  Colonel  Dacres,  Captain  Vicars,  97th,  and 
Willy  Anderson.  I  saw  Captain  Vicars,  and  we  talked 
a  long  time  together ;  poor  fellows  they  are  dreadfully 
uncomfortable.  His  bed  consists  of  a  few  bushes  laid 
on  large  stones.  He  says  two  hundred  of  the  men  of 
his  regiment  have  to  go  daily  into  the  trenches.  They 
have  also  to  find  out-lying  pickets  and  three  regimental 
guards.  So  the  men  are  sometimes  on  duty  thirty-six 
out  of  forty-eight  hours — too  much,  this  !  They  have 
great  difficulty  in  getting  anything  brought  up  fo^them 
from  Balaklava.  Found  it  very  cold  ;  my  fur  coat  and 
long  boots  hardly  kept  the  piercing  wind  out.  Thank 
God  that  I  have  them  ! 

"  Sunday,  December  24>th. — This  afternoon  the  ther- 
mometer sank  almost  to  freezing  point,  and  in  the 
evening  all  the  tents  began  to  freeze.  (10  P.M.) 
Thornton  has  just  called  out  to  me  to  say  that  the 
inside  of  his  tent  is  all  bespangled  with  icicles.  Mine 
is  not  so  for  I  have  a  little  charcoal  burner  with  a  few 
embers  still  alight  in  it.  We  had  no  service  to-day,  the 
weather  and  duty  preventing  it.  Thornton  always 
reads  it  in  the  hospital  on  Sunday.  The  poor  fellows 
there  were  so  glad  to  get  the  little  books  dear  Colonel 
Anderson  sent  me.  Little  books  are  much  more  readily 
received  than  tracts,  for  a  careless  soldier  hates  the 
name  of  tract.  I  have  also  lent  them  several  of  my 
own  books." 


154  THE  SIEGE. 

"Monday,  December  25th. — Another  Christmas-day. 
How  different  in  every  respect  from  those  happy  Christ- 
mas days  I  have  spent  in  Old  Ireland. 

"  Tuesday,  December  26th. — Got  on  well  with  our 
stabling  to-day,  and  put  in  twenty  horses.  Commenced 
digging  a  hole  for  my  hut ;  it  is  to  be  very  small,  as  I 
shall  probably  not  be  with  the  troop  long — nine  feet 
by  seven — just  room  for  my  bedstead  and  a  fire-place. 
The  clay  is  very  suitable  for  the  purpose.  I  saw  my 
name  in  the  Gazette  to-night  as  Captain,  Times  9th 
Decenober ;  Gazette  4th." 

"Thursday,  December  28th. — Went  into  Balaklava 
to  see  Anderson,  having  received  a  note  from  him  last 
night.  It  turned  out  that  he  had  recommended  me  to 
Colonel  Morris,  1st  Division,  as  his  adjutant.  I  wrote 
and  applied  for  the  post,  and  have  got  it.  For  this 
piece  of  good  fortune,  I  have,  under  God,  to  thank  my 
dear  kind  friend  Anderson,  who  exerted  himself  strongly 
in  my  favour. 

"Friday,  December  29th. — Went  up  to  see  Colonel 
Dacres  about  my  appointment ;  he  had  no  objection, 
and  at  once  asked  Lord  Raglan  if  he  might  give  me 
the  appointment.  His  Lordship  consented,  and  called 
me  up,  and  spoke  to  me :  he  asked  about  Maude,  and 
expressed  his  regret  at  losing  him  from  the  army." 

"Sunday,  December  31st. — On  awaking  found  the 
ground  covered  with  snow — cold  and  frosty.  Thermo- 
meter in  my  tent  34°.  Great  discomfort — everything 


THE  SIEGE.  155 

upside  down  in  my  tent.  No  servants — no  mess.  Break- 
fasted with  Woodhouse  and  Co.  Went  to  church  au 
eleven,  with  the  1st  Division,  viz.  Guards  and  97th  Regi- 
ment— Litany  and  sermon.  Mr  Jackson,  late  a  mission- 
ary, preached  ;  very  short  sermon,  but  very  good  one,  all 
to  the  point ;  subject,  "  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me," 
Luke  xxii.  19 ;  chiefly  drawing  our  attention  to  the 
fact  of  this  being  a  command,  not  a  permission  only, 
and  that  he  did  not  wish  to  see  officers  only,  when  the 
sacrament  should  for  the  future  be  administered,  but 
soldiers  too.  He  gave  notice  that  every  Sabbath  after- 
noon at  three,  it  would  be  administered  in  his  tent :  and 
(which  I  like  much)  he  invited  every  soldier  to  come 
and  speak  to  him  at  any  hour  he  liked.  He  is  a  worthy 
successor  of  that  good  man,  Mr  Halpin." 

"  Tuesday,  January  2nd. — The  Russians  fired  last 
night  with  cannon  on  our  advanced  pickets  from 
Inker-man  valley.  Am  in  a  greater  state  of  discomfort 
than  I  have  been  since  I  left  England.  The  interior  of 
my  tent  is  quite  a  slough,  the  rain  having  dribbled  in 
under  the  door  during  the  night.  Have  neither  servant 
nor  groom, — our  horses,  too,  got  no  hay  to-day,  there 
being  none  at  Balaklava ;  owing,  I  have  no  doubt,  to 
further  mismanagement.  Rained  unceasingly.  Trying 
to  dry  my  famous  Russian  leather  boots,  burned  the 
front  out  of  one  of  them.  Great  misfortune  this.  On 
dit,  Prince  Menschikoff  says  he  has  three  generals  of 
great  renown  coming  to  his  assistance,  which  the  allies 


156  THE  SIEGE. 

know  nothing  about,  viz.  January,  February,  and 
March  !!!  I  imagine  there  is  some  truth  in  the  state- 
ment, whether  he  ever  said  so  or  not." 

"Thursday,  January  4th. — My  poor  horses  suffer 
dreadfully.  The  horse  clothing  was  all  frozen  over 
them  to-day  when  I  first  saw  them.  Have  had  no 
hay  for  two  days.  I  give  them  a  little  biscuit,  which 
they  devour  ravenously." 

"Saturday,  January  6th. — Went  down  into  the 
trenches  to-day  with  Colonel  Morris  and  Maxwell. 
Entered  the  21 -gun  battery,  which  is  on  the  crest  of  a 
hill,  about  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  Light  Division 
picket-house.  The  Woronzoff  road  passes  close  by  this 
house,  and  leads  down  near  the  battery.  The  snow  lay  on 
the  ground  a  foot  thick  in  many  places;  but  notwith- 
standing this,  we  could  see  thousands  of  shot  strewing 
the  ground.  When  we  got  near  the  battery  there  was 
hardly  a  square  yard  without  one  or  two  30-pounders,  or 
40-pounders.  I  can  only  compare  its  appearance  with 
that  of  a  turnip  field  with  the  turnip-tops  eaten  off. 
It  is  hardly  credible  that  the  Eussians  could  have  fired 
so  many  shot  and  shell  at  us,  and  yet  have  done  so 
little  damage.  A  naval  officer  said,  that  in  one  place, 
five  yards  by  one,  he  counted  250,  and  even  then  left 
off  before  he  had  reckoned  them  all. 

"  It  was  on  this  road  that  Richards  and  Maxwell 
had,  on  two  or  three  occasions,  in  open  daylight,  to 
take  down  five  or  six  waggons  together,  loaded  with 


THE  SIEGE.  157 

powder.  A  pleasant  position,  truly,  to  ride  close  to 
five  tons  of  powder,  exposed  to  a  storm  of  shot  and 
shell  from  thirty  heavy  guns.  Every  shot  which  missed 
our  battery  came  up  close  to  them,  and  each  had  a 
marvellous  escape.  On  one  occasion,  a  shell  stuck  in 
the  nave  of  one  of  the  wheels  when  Richards  was  in 
charge.  He  imagined  it  was  a  shot,  and  went  up  to 
it ;  when  close  he  saw  the  smoke,  and  instantly  threw 
himself  on  his  back;  at  that  moment  the  shell  burst, 
blew  the  wheel  to  pieces,  and  a  fragment  passed  close 
over  his  body.  Every  one  here  testifies  to  Maxwell's 
coolness  under  fire/' 

"Sunday,  January  \kth. — No  service  to-day  on 
account  of  the  snow.  It  is  now  so  deep  (20  inches) 
on  the  ground  as  to  make  it  almost  impossible  to  get 
firewood.  Even  the  little  branches  which  used  to  indi- 
cate the  proper  place  to  dig,  are  now  covered.  To-day 
the  wind  was  very  high  and  cold,  and  the  drift  so 
great  as  to  make  it  most  unpleasant  travelling.  We 
expected  to  have  no  dinner  to-day  from  want  of  fuel, 
however  we  managed  at  last  to  get  some,  and  had  an 
excellent  dinner.  No  one  would  believe  (except  those 
who  have  lived  the  same  kind  of  life  as  we  now  are 
doing)  how  our  spirits  rise  and  fall  in  almost  exact 
proportion  to  the  supply  of  our  animal  comforts.  This, 
'however,  is  a  sad  truth,  and  has  a  most  important 
bearing  on  the  progress  of  the  war.  We  expected  to 
have  no  dinner  to-day,  and  we  all  (very  much  in  con- 


158  THE  SIEGE. 

sequence)  wrote  doleful  letters  to  our  friends,  and  no 
doubt  said  the  army  was  suffering  extreme  hardships. 
The  staff,  I  have  no  doubt,  wrote  in  their  private  cor- 
respondence that  the  army  was  hardly  suffering  at  all, 
because  they  enjoy  every  luxury  and  comfort. 

"  Monday,  January  15th. — Weather  still  cold,  and 
blowing  hard.  Nothing  important  doing.  Yesterday 
afternoon  went  over  to  see  Vicars,  97th,  and  found  that 
he  has  had  a  second  escape  from  his  charcoal  stove. 
Thank  God  he  is  still  alive,  and  tolerably  well.  With 
what  signal  manifestations  of  mercy  and  love  the  Lord 
our  God  preserves  His  own.  Had  some  conversation 
with  him  on  the  subject  of  a  prayer-meeting,  which  I 
think  it  would  be  so  desirable  to  establish  in  the  Divi- 
sion. Graydon,  Vicars,  Major  Ingram,  97th,  W.  An- 
derson, and  myself,  might  very  well  form  such,  and  we 
are  all  within  a  few  hundred  yards,  except  W.  Ander- 
son. Who  can  tell  the  amount  of  benefit  our  souls 
might  receive  were  we  thus  to  meet  for  mutual  edifi- 
cation, and  prayer,  and  studying  the  Word  of  God. 
May  He  bless  our  efforts  ! " 

"  CAMP  BEFORE  SEBASTOPOL,  January  19th,  1855. 

"MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — Having  been  in  a  state  of 
uncertainty  and  extreme  discomfort  the  last  three 
weeks,  I  have  hitherto  been  unable  to  comply  with 
your  very  kind  request,  that  I  should  write  frequently 
to  you.  The  thermometer  indicating  cold  of  7°  or 


THE  SIEGE.  159 

8°  in  my  tent,  the  floor  of  which  consisted  chiefly 
of  frozen  mud,  you  can  imagine  such  a  state  of 
things  was  not  calculated  to  induce  me  to  sit  down 
quietly  for  the  purpose  of  transferring  my  thoughts  to 
paper.  Having,  however,  yesterday  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  your  dear  son  William  at  Inker  man,  I  can 
no  longer  forbear  giving  you  the  pleasure,  which  I 
know  you  will  feel,  when  I  tell  you  he  was  then  quite 

well  and  very   cheerful He  has  managed   to 

make  himself  tolerably  comfortable,  and  though  so 
great  a  distance  from  Balaklava,  tells  me  they  are  well 

supplied  with  rations His  brother  John  watches 

over  him  just  like  a  father,  and  is  continually  sending 
him  up  comforts  of  one  kind  or  another  ;  there  never 
was  a  more  affectionate  brother  in  the  whole  world. 
Indeed,  my  dear  Colonel,  I  have  good  cause  to  speak 
of  your  son  in  terms  of  warm  gratitude ;  for  he  has 
obtained  for  me  the  appointment  which  I  now  hold, 
that  of  Adjutant  to  Colonel  Morris,  commanding  Royal 
Artillery,  1st  Division,  and  this  without  any  suggestion 
on  my  part.  He  kindly  obtained  the  promise  from 
Colonel  Morris  ;  and  in  consequence  of  his  recom- 
mendation alone,  Colonel  Morris  acceded  to  my  request. 
This  is  thus  the  second  appointment  which  I  have 
obtained  through  you  and  your  family.  ....  John, 
when  I  saw  him  last,  some  days  ago,  was  quite  well, 
and  fully  employed  as  usual.  I  suppose  he  will  get 
one  of  the  packets  that  are  going,  and  hope  so  for  his 


1GO  THE  SIEGE. 

sake,  he  is  so  anxious  to  get  home.  This,  by  the  by, 
is  the  great  failing  with  all  the  married  men !  .  .  .  . 
Concerning  the  state  of  affairs  out  here,  there  is  little 
worth  mentioning,  which  the  newspapers  do  not  give 
in  full ;  their  accounts,  especially  those  in  the  Times, 

are,  I  regret  to  say,  only  too  true However, 

thank  God,  we  have,  I  think,  seen  the  worst,  and  are 
now  improving  much — I  trust  permanently.  The 
severe  frost  has  at  last  given  way,  and  a  steady  thaw 
set  in,  with  a  S.S.E.  wind,  and  we  all  rejoice  in  the 
probability  of  its  continuance.  The  greater  part,  too, 
of  the  warm  clothing,  of  which  there  is  a  most  abun- 
dant supply,  has  been  received  and  distributed,  much 

to  the  benefit  and  comfort  of  the  whole  army 

We  have  now  hardly  any  chaplains  with  the  army. 
Mr  Watson  has  arrived,  and  is  at  Balaklava  with 
the  Highland  Brigade ;  I  trust  his  health  will  enable 
him  to  remain.  When  I  next  go  to  Balaklava,  I  purpose 
calling  on  him.  After  your  account  of  him,  I  am  sure 
I  should  enjoy  his  society  very  much,  and  shall  try  to 
know  him  intimately  ;  there  are  so  few  out  here  with 
whom  I  can  converse  on  these  subjects,  which  I  can 
truly  say,  notwithstanding  all  our  bustle,  excitement, 
and  annoyance,  are  still  dearest  to  me.  With  Captain 
Vicars,  97th,  I  had  the  other  day  some  sweet  com- 
munion. He  is  indeed,  '  a  man  of  God.'  I  hope  to 
see  much  of  him, 

"  Willy,  to  my  great  delight,  has  promised  to  come 


THE  SIEGE.  161 

and  spend  a  few  hours  with  me  on  Sunday  next,  and  I 
hope  Vicars  will  come  too.  Surely  these  are  times 
when  we  ought  to  think  much  of  another  and  a  better 
world.  Ever  your  affectionate  and  obliged 

"  ARTHUR  VANDELETJB." 

"Sunday,  January  Zlst. — My  birthday — twenty- 
six  years  old.  How  many  mercies  have  surrounded  ine 
during  the  past  year ;  may  my  life,  as  well  as  my  lips, 
shew  forth  my  gratitude  !  No  Division  church-parade  ; 
so  Wodehouse  read  the  service  to  his  company.  Poor 
fellows  in  hospital  very  glad  to  get  some  books  ; — may 
the  Lord  impress  the  great  truths  contained  in  them 
on  their  hearts.  They  were  also  glad  to  have  service 
read  to  them  in  the  evening ; — hope  I  shall  be  able  to 
continue  this.  Went  over  to  see  Vicars,  97th — had 
some  conversation  with  him  and  Major  Ingram — pur- 
pose going  over  to  see  them  often.  It  is  very  sweet  to 
have  some  one  within  reach  with  whom  I  can  commune 
oil  sacred  subjects.  Here  trifling,  chaffing,  and  noisy 
conversation,  engross  the  whole  of  our  evenings,  except 
that  time  which  is  occupied  with  whist,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  anything  sensible,  charitable,  or  refined.  I 
Avish  I  had  my  dear  friend  Bruce  out  here ;  but  I  must 
not  be  selfish,  and  wish  my  dearest  friend  to  come  out 
to  such  a  life  as  we  now  have — one  of  hardship,  annoy- 
ance, and  selfishness  ;  a  life  to  all  but  a  Christian  (who 

can  at  times  abstract  himself  from  all  around,  and 

L 


162  THE  SIEGE. 

have  his  mind  watered,  comforted,  and  re-strung,  by 
communion  with  our  blessed  Redeemer)  detrimental  to 
every  kindly  feeling  and  noble  sympathy.  I  almost 
repent  of  my  decision  to  remain  out ; — but  no,  I  will 
trust  my  covenant  God,  and  believe  that  He  has  great 
stores  of  mercy  laid  up  for  me ;  and  that  He  has  a 
glorious  purpose  of  love  with  regard  to  myself  and 
those  among  whom  I  am  placed.  Oh,  to  honour  Him 
before  men ! " 

"Sunday,  February  4>th. — Read  service  to  men  in 
hospital,  and  went  to  Ingram's  tent,  but  they  had  had 
their  service. 

'•Monday,  February  5th. — Lord  Rokeby  takes  com- 
mand of  the  Brigade  of  Guards,  540  bayonets.  Com- 
menced my  stables,  and  worked  hard  myself,  sledging 
and  picking.  Got  one  well  finished,  and  put  in  '  Czar/  " 

The  following  letter  was  written  at  this  date  : — 

TO  REV.  C.  FLEUEY. 

"CAMP  BEFORE  SEBASTOPOL, 
February  5th,  1855. 

"MY  DEAR  FRIEND, — It  requires  a  considerable 
amount  of  moral  courage  and  perseverance,  to  accom- 
plish even  a  single  letter,  in  these  cold  and  dreary  regions. 
But  so  grateful  do  I  feel  for  your  last  kind  and  most 
welcome  letter,  that  I  cannot  suffer  this  mail  to  leave 
without  thanking  you  for  it.  It  is  difficult  for  you  to 
conceive  how  the  scenes  and  circumstances  in  the 


THE  SIEGE.  163 

midst  of  which  I  am  placed,  add  to  the  value  of  letters 
such  as  yours ;  how  they  are  hailed  with  delight,  read, 
re-read,  and  pondered  upon,  with  feelings  which  it  is 
easier  to  imagine  than  describe. 

"How  happy  I  should  be  again  to  find  myself  in 
dear  old  Dublin,  where  I  enjoyed  so  many  delightful 
privileges ;  amongst  the  chief  of  which  I  reckon  my 
"  sitting  "  in  the  Molyneux,  and  our  much-enjoyed  and 
often-remembered  evening  readings  at  your  house. 

"  I  trust  you  and  all  yours  continue  well,  and  that 
your  school  succeeds.  The  principle  on  which  you 
have  established  it  appears  a  singular  one  ;  but  if  you 
get  the  boys  young,  I  see  no  reason  why  you  should 
not  succeed.  All  depends  on  the  correct  discernment 
of  character ;  and  I  know  well  that  the  rod  is  often 
most  unnecessarily  and  injudiciously  applied;  that 
such  treatment  often  ruins  delicate  and  sensitive  na- 
tures ; — and  such  natures  are  the  most  valuable,  as 
being  generally  found  allied  to  a  high  degree  of  in- 
telligence and  a  high '  tone  of  moral  feeling,  which, 
if  properly  nurtured  and  delicately  handled,  might 
prove  a  blessing  to  all  with  whom  they  are  after- 
wards thrown,  when  life's  hard  toils  begin.  So,  they 
might  be  an  honour,  instead  of  a  disgrace,  to  the 
instructors  of  their  youth. 

"  I  imagine  that  one  of  the  greatest  errors  committed 
by  many,  is  the  leaving  boys  quite  to  themselves  during 
the  hours  of  play,  when  the  rougher  natures  and  the 


164  THE  SIEGE. 

older  boys  aoon  get  the  upper  Land,  and  (unless  un- 
usually generous)  use  their  authority  only  to  crush  the 
weakest.  I  had  a  long  experience  of  the  effect  of  such 
conduct,  when  preparing  for  the  army.  This  it  is  that 
constitutes  the  great  difference  between  school  and 
home,  where  the  boys  are  not  under  strong  constraint, 
and  yet  never  left  quite  alone. 

"  How  many,  many  mercies  I  have  experienced  from 
Him  whom  I  do  indeed  regard  as  the  great  Captain 
of  my  salvation  I  Amongst  them  are  the  wonderful 
manner  in  which  I  have  been  preserved  in  the  day 
of  battle,  and  the  health  and  strength  which  I  now 
enjoy.  Oh  that  both  these  and  all  else  that  belongs 
to  me  might  be  more  and  better  used  for  His  hon- 
our and  glory  !  I  find  these  lines  peculiarly  applicable 
to  me  just  now :  I  have  been  given  to  feel  something 
of  their  truth,  depth,  and  comfort : — 

Know,  iny  soul,  thy  full  salvation ; 

Rise  o'er  sin  and  fear  and  care  j 
Joy  to  find  in  every  station 

Something  still  to  do  and  bear. 
Think  what  Spirit  dwells  within  thee  I 

Think  what  Father's  smiles  are  thine  ! 
Think  that  Jesus  died  to  save  thee  ! 

Child  of  Heaven,  canst  thou  repine  ? ' 

"To  all,  this  is  a  life  of  trial  and  hardship,  in  some 
sense  or  other;  'but  there  remaineth  a  rest  to  the 
people  of  God.'  May  we  not  come  short  of  it !  May 
we  work  while  it  is  day,  and  work  for  God  and  for  our 


THE  SIEGE.  1  65 

fellow -creatures.  ...  Oh  for  a  speedy  end  to  this  war  1 
Oh  that  the  Prince  of  Peace  may  soon  restore  to  us  the 
blessings  of  peace  !  I  think  we  should  know  how  to 
appreciate  it  now." 

"  Wednesday,  February  7th. — Weather  still  delight- 
ful. Still  at  work  at  the  stables.  Read  much  to-day. 

"  Thursday,  February  8th. — Had  pistol  practice 
to-day  with  Pennycuick  and  Harply.  The  arming  of 
the  Inkerman  batteries  commenced  this  evening — is 
chiefly  done  by  the  French — we  furnish  wheelers. 
Took  up  three  mortars  and  beds. 

"  Friday,  February  9th. — Two  more  new  batteries 
are  to  be  constructed ;  one  of  nine  guns,  close  to  our 
advanced  trenches  in  front  of  Gordon's  battery,  and 
one  of  fifteen,  on  the  inner  slope  of  the  Inkerman  hill; 
both  to  fire  on  the  Round  Tower ;  under  cover  of 
which  fire  an  advance  is  to  be  made  on  a  hill  only  700 
yards  off  from  this  tower,  which  commands  it ;  where 
a  sand-bag  battery  is  to  be  erected  in  one  night  for 
fifteen  guns.  A  strong  sortie  will  of  course  be  made 
on  this,  which  we  are  to  beat  back,  and  entering 
pell-mell  with  the  enemy,  are  to  take  possession  of  the 
works  around  the  tower  and  keep  them.  How  well 
this  reads — may  it  be  successful  in  stern  reality  ! 

"  This  is  a  most  memorable  day  for  me.  A  good 
hope  granted  of  a  blessed  answer  to  the  prayer  of 
many  years.  New  and  greater  mercies  than  ever 


166  THE  SIEGE. 

have  been  lavished  upon  me  before,  by  my  all-mer- 
ciful God.  Glory,  glory,  glory,  be  to  His  most  holy 
Name  for  ever !  How  true  are  His  words,  '  Let  the 
hearts  of  them  rejoice,  that  seek  the  Lord ! ' 

"Saturday,  February  10th. — One  of  the  most  severe 
days  we  have  had  during  the  whole  whiter.  A  strong 
wind  from  the  N.  by  W.,  with  sleet  and  snow.  Very 
trying  it  must  be  for  the  poor  fellows  in  the  trenches. 
Eemained  at  home  writing  and  reading  all  day. 

"Sunday,  February  llth. — Weather  too  unsettled 
for  church-parade.  Read  to  men  in  hospital,  and  wrote 
in  the  afternoon." 

"  Tuesday,  February  1 3th. — This  evening  we  break 
ground  in  advance  of  Gordon's  battery,  for  a  new  battery, 
about  300  yards  to  the  right  front  of  Gordon's.  The 
firing  has  been  very  heavy  and  constant  this  evening; 
so  I  dare  say  they  have  already  commenced  to  break  the 
ground.  Got  hold  of  a  most  valuable  little  book, 
called  '  Spring's  Fragments,'  this  evening,  and  read  the 
chapter  on  'a  useful  Christian/  Very  truthful  and 
forcible.  I  must  be  a  useful  Christian,  must  try  to 
give  up  my  lazy  habits,  and  become  much  more  useful 
in  my  generation  than  I  have  ever  yet  been.  I  can- 
not do  this  of  myself,  but  I  look  to  God — the  loving 
God — to  strengthen  and  support  me  in  my  determina- 
tion. Christian  knowledge,  activity  and  energy,  zeal 
tempered  with  discretion,  ardent  uniform  piety,  earnest 
prayer,  mortification  of  an  aspiring  spirit,  the  absence 


THE  SIEGE.  1  G7 

of  an  earthly  mind,  and  great  consistency  of  character ; 
these  are  some  of  the  requisite  graces ;  and  0  heavenly 
Father,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  grant  them  to  me, 
and  may  all  Thy  dealings  with  me  be  sanctified  and 
made  to  conspire  to  this  great  end ! 

"  Wednesday,  February  \4ith. — Another  lovely  day, 
just  like  May  in  England.  Thermometer  55°.  The 
French  (200  Zouaves)  commenced  their  battery  on  the 
right  front  of  Gordon's  last  night,  and  it  looked  very 
respectable  to-day  from  a  distance.  In  the  afternoon, 
went  with  W.  Anderson  over  to  the  97th  camp,  where  I 
enjoyed  the  inestimable  privilege  of  joining  with  a 
chosen  few  in  the  worship  of  God  in  a  tent.  Ingrain 
read  prayers,  and  Vicars  read  a  sermon.  There  were 
also  present,  Cay,  Coldstream  Guards ;  Smith,  97th ; 
Le  Couteur,  Coldstream  Guards ;  Anderson  and  myself. 
We  all  enjoyed  it  much." 

TO  REV.  G.  DESPARD. 
"CAMP  BEFORE  SEBASTOPOL,  March  2nd,  1855. 

"  MY  DEAR  GEORGE, — You  must  have  often  thought, 
'What  can  prevent  Arthur  from  answering  my  last 
letter?'  That  letter,  so  kind,  so  interesting,  so  full  of 
details,  was,  I  assure  you,  most  welcome.  I  received  it 
just  after  the  skirmish  of  the  Bulgarnac,  the  day  before 
the  battle  of  the  Alma.  It  was  almost  the  first  spare 
moment  I  had  had  since  landing,  and,  lying  full  length  on 
the  ground,  dead  tired  and  very  hot,  I  read  your  letter ; 


1 68  THE  SIEGE. 

so  you  see  you  did  not  make  a  bad  gue.ss  as  to  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  it  would  find  me.  How  applicable 
did  I  then  find  its  concluding  passages  to  be.  The 
Lord  our  God  had  then,  for  the  first  time,  (blessed  be 
His  Holy  Name !)  '  covered  my  head  in  the  day  of 
battle/  My  dear  George,  though  I  have  never  since 
written  to  you,  I  did,  I  assure  you,  feel  most  grateful  for 
your  kind  wishes  and  earnest  prayers  on  my  behalf. 

"As  regards  myself,  I  have  little  of  interest  to  commu- 
nicate. I  was  for  six  weeks  sick  at  Scutari ;  but,  thank 
God,  I  got  better  under  excellent  medical  treatment, 
and  was  able  to  leave  that  horrible  place  and  return  to 
my  duty.  Shortly  after  my  return  I  was  promoted,  and 
fell  to  a  company  at  Corfu.  I  was  very  sorry  indeed  to 
leave  my  old  troop,  to  which  I  was  proud  to  belong.  But 
preferring  to  remain  and  see  the  campaign  out,  I  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  the  Adjutancy  of  the  1st  Division 
Eoyal  Artillery,  and  have  been  consequently,  since  the 
beginning  of  the  new  year,  encamped  on  these  heights. 
While  down  at  Balaklava,  our  hardships  were  nothing 
to  speak  of ;  but  it  has  been  very  different  since  we 
came  up  here.  Personally,  I  have  not  suffered,  beyond 
being  sometimes  rather  short  of  food,  and  feeling  the  cold 
to  be  very  severe.  But  I  have  seen  suffering,  misery, 
and  death  in  almost  every  form,  and  to  a  vast  amount ; 
and  arising,  too,  I  regret  to  say,  chiefly  from  misman- 
agement and  want  of  thought  I  have  myself  seen  the 
horses  eating  the  clothing  off  their  own  backs  to  satisfy 


THE  SIEGE.  1C9 

the  cravings  of  hunger,  and  whole  blankets  have  been 

devoured  in  one  night Large  reinforcements  of 

artillery  are  daily  arriving,  and  more  have  been  sent 
for  to  the  Mediterranean  stations  ;  and  when  they 
arrive,  we  shall,  I  think,  be  able  to  commence  our  fire. 
....  The  Eussians  have  now  got  twenty-two  guns  in 
their  new  work,  and  we  have  to  throw  up  two  batteries 
of  fifteen  guns  each  to  oppose  it.  But  anything  is 
better  than  inaction.  We  are  all  anxious  to  commence. 
I  humbly  trust  and  pray  that  we  may  be  wise  now,  and 
look  for  strength  and  support  to  the  Lord  God  of 
hosts.  My  great  confidence  is  in  the  prayers  that  are 
daily  offered  up  for  our  success.  Ever  your  affectionate 
friend,  AKTHUK  VANDELEUK." 

"  Tuesday,  March  13th. — Went  down  to  the  Tcher- 
naya  to  cut  sticks,  gather  violets,  and  make  a  sketch, — 
all  of  which  I  accomplished.  It  is  a  most  lovely  spot. 
I  wish  I  could  do  justice  to  it.  The  underground  town 
of  Inkerman  was  built,  I  hear,  by  the  Arians,  in  the 
third  or  fourth  centuries,  to  escape  persecution. 

"  Wednesday,  March  \±th. — Rode  with  Ingram, 9 7th, 
to  the  Monastery  of  St  George — had  a  fine  day,  and 
enjoyed  our  ride  excessively.  We  rode  round  by  some 
of  the  cliffs,  and  were  much  struck  with  their  beauty 
and  arrangement.  They  resemble  the  cliffs  of  Moher 
on  a  much  smaller  scale.  After  I  returned  I  walked 
up  to  the  Victoria  Redoubt  to  see  the  French  work. 


170  THE  SIEGE. 

They  are  now  about  fourteen  hundred  yards  in  advance 
of  the  redoubt,  and  only  eight  hundred  from  the  Mame- 
lon,  which  they  are  approaching  by  sap.  At  seven 
o'clock  we  were  surprised  by  hearing  the  musketry 
become  very  sharp,  and  presently  the  great  guns  on 
both  sides  joined  in,  and  the  firing  all  round  became 
general,  but  strongest  in  front  of  the  Victoria  Redoubt ; 
it  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  when  there  was  a  lull  of  half- 
an-hour's  duration  ;  and  then  they  again  began  to  fire, 
and  the  engagement  became  sharper  than  ever ;  it  lasted 
upwards  of  another  hour,  and  then  ceased.  It  has 
been,  I  imagine,  a  Russian  sortie,  in  force  on  the  new 
French  Parallel.  The  whole  of  the  French  Divisions 
near  this  have  turned  out,  and  marched  up  with  their 
artillery.  Our  Light  Division  also  marched  up  the 
hill,  and  the  Siege  Train  Companies  fell  in.  \Ve 
remained  quiet,  knowing  we  should  not  be  wanted. 
After  two  hours'  fighting,  all  is  over.  Many  poor  fel- 
lows, I  fear,  lie  weltering  in  their  blood  now,  and  why 
am  I  spared?  Great  is  the  mercy  of  my  good  God  to 
me.  Last  evening,  at  5  P.M.,  one  of  my  dear  friends, 
Captain  Craigie,  Royal  Engineers,  was  killed  by  the 
splinter  of  a  shell,  as  he  was  returning  from  his  work ; 
it  struck  him  in  the  side,  and  entered  his  heart — death 
was  instantaneous.  Poor  dear  fellow,  his  loss  is  much 
felt  JH  every  way,  both  in  his  profession,  of  which  he 
was  an  active  and  zealous  member,  and  in  private  life, 


THE  SIEGE.  1 71 

being  a  most  kind  and  affectionate  friend,  always  fall 
of  good  humour  and  fun,  and  a  sincere  Christian." 

"  CAMP  BEFORE  SEBA.STOPOL,  March  16th,  1855. 

"  MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — Shortly  after  I  had  written 
my  last  letter,  I  heard  of  your  re-appointment  to  the 
Horse  Brigade,  and  in  its  highest  rank.  Truly  delighted 
was  I  to  hear  that  you  had  rejoined  your  old  and 
favourite  branch  of  the  regiment.  I  can  quite  imagine 
the  feeling  of  legitimate  pride  and  joy  with  which  dear 
Mrs  Anderson  must  have  regarded  you,  when  you  had 
resumed  the  dress  which  she  knows  always  becomes 
you  so  welL  John,  too,  I  had  much  pleasure  in  con- 
gratulating on  the  birth  of  the  son  and  heir. 

"  I  often  go  into  Balaklava  on  foraging  expeditions 
and  have  always  the  pleasure  of  a  little  chat  with  John, 
and  I  am  often  privileged  with  a  peep  of  some  of  your 
letters.  He  is,  like  most  of  us,  very  anxious  to  get 
home ;  and  I  hope  his  wish  may  shortly  be  gratified, 
as  I,  along  with  all  his  friends,  think  he  is  fairly  en- 
titled to  some  good  appointment  at  home,  or  even  to  the 
great  aim  of  his  ambition,  a  troop.  I  know  well  that 
all  his  superiors,  (and  they  alone  are  fit  to  judge,)  con- 
sider that  he  has  effected  the  laborious  work  of  super- 
intending the  disembarkation  and  transmission  of  the 
vast  amount  of  gun,  shot,  and  material  required  for 
this  siege,  with  energy,  ability,  and  success.  The  Lord 


172  THE  SIEGE. 

God  has  made  all  that  he  has  undertaken  to  prosper, 
and  has  fulfilled  many  of  the  precious  promises  con- 
tained in  His  Word  to  him,  because  he  puts  his  trust 

in  Him 

"  For  the  last  few  Sabbaths,  we  have  enjoyed  the 
inestimable  privilege  of  joining  with  Major  Ingram 
and  Captain  Vicars,  97th  Regiment,  Dr  Cay  of  the 
Coldstream  Guards,  and  one  or  two  other  of  God's 
dear  children,  to  worship  Him  in  Captain  Vicars'  tent. 
We  read  the  Evening  Service  and  a  sermon.  You 
can  well  imagine  how  great  -is  the  pleasure,  how  last- 
ing the  benefit,  which  we  derive  from  this  sacred  em- 
ployment. For  my  own  part,  I  can  truly  say,  that 
these  moments  are  among  the  happiest  and  most  un- 
alloyed which  I  have  spent  since  I  have  been  in  the 
Crimea.  We  are  all  within  a  convenient  distance  of 
each  other ;  and  I  sincerely  hope  we  shall  be  able  to 
continue  these  meetings,  which  remind  me  always  of 
those  I  so  often  had  the  delight  of  joining  in  at  your 
house.  Poor  Captain  Craigie,  R.  E.,  was  with  us  last 
Sunday  but  one ;  he  is  now,  I  feel  sure,  in  the  land 
'  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  where  the 
weary  are  at  rest.'  He  met  his  death  on  Wednesday 
evening,  on  returning  from  the  trenches.  A  fragment  of 
a  shell  which  burst  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  him, 
struck  him  on  the  left  side,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
entered  his  heart.  Death  was  instantaneous.  Poor 
fellow !  there  are  few  who  make  themselves  so  univer- 


THE  SIEGE.  173 

sally  respected  as  he  did,  or  so  beloved  for  his  temper 

and  good-hurnour  at  all  times.    He  is  a  great  loss 

"  We  all  desire  peace,  but  without  Sebastopol,  it  is 
out  of  the  question.  May  the  Lord  God  be  with  us 
and  prosper  us.  I  have  hope  now.  The  21st  inst. 
has  been  appointed  as  a  day  of  humiliation  at  home. 
Many  praying  souls  in  this  army  will  join  you,  and  I 
am  sure  we  shall  be  heard.  Please  give  my  kind  love 

to  all  your  family,  and  Christian  regards  to  B . 

Ever  your   deeply  -  indebted   and   affectionate  young 
friend,  A.  VANDELEUR." 

Captain  Vandeleur's  Journal  has  copious  details  of 
the  action  of  the  night  of  the  22nd  of  March  ;  which  he 
terms  "  a  glorious  affair/' 

This  passage  is  not  inserted  here  ;  having  been  pub- 
lished, in  substance,  in  the  Memorials  of  Captain 
Vicars.  He  thus  concludes  : — 

"  My  dear,  noble  Vicars  !  valued  friend  !  there  were 
few  like  him  out  here.  Cheerful,  gentle,  unassuming, 
his  society  was  enjoyed  by  all  who  knew  him.  Warm- 
hearted, affectionate,  and  honest,  he  was  valued  by  those 
whom  he  made  his  friends.  Brave,  conscientious,  kind 
and  considerate  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  ;  he  was 
respected  by  his  superiors,  loved  by  his  inferiors,  and 
deeply  lamented  by  all.  A  God-fearing,  righteous  man, 
he  has,  I  fully  believe,  been  removed  from  the  evil  to 


174  THE  SIEGE. 

come,  and  is  now  amid  angels  and  archangels,  praising 
Him  who  bought  him  with  His  blood,  before  the  throne 
of  God  and  of  the  Lamb.  How  little  we  thought  when 
the  very  day  before,  we  heard  him  read  the  beautiful 
Church  service  with  the  deepest  solemnity,  that  so  soon 
he  should  be  taken  from  the  midst  of  us.  He  could  ill 
be  spared,  as  praying  souls  are  but  few  among  us  ;  and 
his  was  a  noble  work  amongst  the  sick  and  wounded." 

"Saturday,  March  24<th. — A  suspension  of  hostilities 
took  place  to-day  for  two  hours  to  bury  the  dead. 
Great  numbers  of  our  officers  took  the  opportunity  to 
go  out  in  front  of  the  French  trenches,  and  see  or 
talk  to  the  Russian  officers.  I  could  not  go,  for  I  was 
anxious  to  get  over  my  work,  in  order  to  be  able  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  my  dear  and  lamented  friend 
Vicars.  Some  of  our  officers  walked  over  the  grounds 
almost  as  far  as  the  Mamelon.  Many  of  the  Russian 
officers  spoke  English  and  most  of  them  French,  so 
great  cltatt  went  on  between  us  and  them." 

"  Monday,  April  2nd. — No  oper.ing  to  day.  Rode 
with  Ingrain  to  the  Monastery  and  made  a  sketch  of 
that  lovely  spot. 

"  Tuesday,  April  3rd. — Paid  a  round  of  visits  to 
my  friends.  Saw  Bambrigge  of  the  Royal  Engineers, 
who  has  lately  returned  from  Ceylon.  He  goes  into 
the  trenches  this  evening. 

"  Wednesday,  April  4<th. — The  first  thing  I  heard  to- 
day was  the  death  of  poor  Bambrigge,  who  was  killed 


THE  SIEGE.  175 

by  a  shell  from  a  mortar  in  our  advanced  sap  last 
night.  He  saw  it  coming,  and  generously  got  all  the 
men  inside  the  work ;  he  was  last,  and  the  shell  fell  close 
to  him,  and  blew  him  literally  to  atoms.  Poor  fellow, 
he  was  a  contemporary  of  mine,  and  a  great  friend ;  a 
very  talented  officer." 

"Sunday,  April  8th.  —  Easter-day.  Enjoyed  the 
inestimable  privilege  of  partaking  of  the  holy  Com- 
munion in  the  school-room,  77th  Regiment.  Many 
officers  attended,  and  I  enjoyed  it  exceedingly.  May  I 
ever  esteem  and  prize  the  opportunities  which  may  be 
afforded  me  of  growing  in  grace  and  love.  We  were 
under  orders  to  turn  out,  and  march  to  Balaklava,  with 
four  guns  from  each  battery,  if  there  should  be  an  alarm 
during  the  night,  as  Lord  Raglan  expected  an  attack 
— but  none  came  off." 

"Saturday,  April  \^th. — A  general  assault  has,  it  is 
said,  been  fixed  for  this  evening,  or  rather  just  before 
daylight  to-morrow  morning.  The  French  to  attack 
the  Round  Tower,  or  Mamelon,  Flagstaff  Battery,  and 
Quarantine  Fort ;  while  we  are  to  go  in  at  the  Redan 
and  Barrack  Battery.  Firing  kept  up  very  brisk.  We 
opened  the  eight-gun  battery  on  the  right  yesterday, 
with  excellent  effect,  and  the  six-gun  battery  on  the 
left,  which  was,  however,  soon  shut  up ;  the  Russians 
brought  such  a  number  of  guns  to  bear  on  it,  four 
guns  were  disabled  out  of  five — a  sergeant  and  seven 
men  killed  in  half-an-hour.  So  much  for  our  advanced 


176  THE  SIEGE. 

batteries.  Captain  Oldershaw  was  almost  the  only 
man  unwounded,  when  he  shut  up  the  embrasure  and 
inarched  the  remnant  of  his  detachment  off. 

"Sunday,  April  15th. —  No  assault;  firing  con- 
tinued. 

"Monday,  April  IQth. — Firing  still  kept  up,  but 
weaker. 

"Tuesday,  April  VJth. — Firing  ordered  to  be  re- 
duced; and  so  the  second  siege  is  virtually  ter- 
minated!'' 


CHAPTER  XD, 


"  When  I  His  yoka  do  bear, 

And  seek  my  chiefest  joy 
Bat  in  His  righteousness,  and  sweet  employ, 

He  maketh  me  His  care  ; 

Early  and  late  doth  bless, 
And  crowneth  work  and  purpose  with  success.1* 


I 


fc  BTZAMEH  '  CANADIAN/  OFF  CONSTANTINOPLE, 
Mail  4</t,  1855. 

"My  DEAR  COLONEL, — You  will  doubtless  be  sur- 
prised when  you  read  the  above  address.  I  must  explain 
that  having  been  laid  up  for  ten  days  with  an  attack  of 
low  fever  during  the  latter  part  of  our  second — and,  I 
regret  to  say,  fruitless — bombardment,  I  was  ordered 
a  month's  sick  leave  to  Constantinople  to  recruit :  but 
just  at  this  time  my  chief,  Colonel  Morris,  applied 
for  leave  on  private  affairs  to  England,  and  obtained 
it  to  the  end  of  July,  ....  and  I  join  my  company 
at  Corfu.  I  am  now  on  my  way  thither  in  this  magnifi- 
cent vessel,  which  sailed  from  Balaklava  on  the  2nd. 
She  goes  direct  to  Corfu  to  bring  up  a  regiment.  Wo 
stop  only  a  few  hours  at  Constantinople.  I  cannot  tell 
you  how  happy  I  am  to  get  away  from  the  scene  of 
strife  and  carnage,  and  again  to  become  a  quiet  mem- 
ber of  society.  Many  causes  have  conspired  to  bring 
about  this  change  of  feeling  in  me,  which  I  can  better 
explain  when  I  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  This, 


1  ?0  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

I  trust  and  expect,  please  God,  is  not  very  far  distant, 
as  I  purpose  applying  for  leave  to  England  immediately 
on  my  arrival  at  Corfu 

"What  a  pleasure  it  will  be  again  to  enjoy  the 
society  of  my  excellent  and  valued  friend  Bruce.  It 
is  a  most  cheering  prospect  to  me.  I  left  dear  John 
two  days  since  :  he  accompanied  me  on  board.  How 
the  dear  fellow  longs  to  be  in  England :  though  labour- 
ing energetically  and  very  successfully  here,  his  heart 
is  with  you  all  at  home 

"A  secret  expedition  sailed  yesterday,  (3rd,)  as  is 
supposed,  to  take  Kertch,  and  force  a  passage  into  the 
Sea  of  Azoff.  It  consisted  of  the  71st,  93rd,  42nd,  and 
43rd  Eegiments,  and  Barker's  Battery,  with  all  the 
small  steamers  and  gun-boats — the  land  forces  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Cameron.  I  am  glad  of  this,  as 
the  variety  will  rouse  up  the  spirits  of  our  troops,  who 
are  only  anxious  to  get  at  their  foe  on  something  like 
fair  terms.  The  English  spirit  of  perseverance  is  now 

thoroughly  aroused Out  here  we  want  a  man 

accustomed  to  success  even  in  small  affairs,  and  one  who 
knows  the  value  of  TIME.  Napoleon  said  once,  '  These 
Austrians  are  not  accustomed  to  estimate  the  import- 
ance of  MINUTES  in  war,  but  I  know  their  value/ 
The  Russian  general,  no  doubt  says,  'These  English 
don't  know  the  value  of  weeks  or  even  of  months ! ' 
Ever  your  affectionate  young  friend, 

"A.  VANDELEUR." 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  181 

On  the  25th  of  May,  he  landed  in  England ;  and  in 
the  course  of  a  week  from  that  time,  paid  his  first  visit 
to  Bcckenham  Rectory.  A  beginning  was  then  made  of 
frank  and  frequent  intercourse,  and  of  delightful  friend- 
ship, which  during  the  five  following  years  struck  its 
roots  deeper  and  firmer,  and  grew  and  blossomed  un- 
checked and  unchilled ;  culminating  only  as  to  its 
earthly  existence,  with  his  withdrawal  from  our  sight, 
into  the  "general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first- 
born." 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  give  an  idea  of  the  charm 
of  living  sunshine  which  seemed  to  radiate  about  him  ; 
uniting,  as  he  did,  the  most  polished  manners  with  the 
frank  simplicity  of  a  high-hearted,  eager  boy ;  mellow- 
ing and  merging  both  in  the  tender  glow  of  "  love  to 
the  brethren,"  which  overflowed  a  heart  in  which  his 
Saviour's  love  was  "  a  spring,  whose  waters  failed  not ;" 
few  could  meet  him  without  being  conscious  of  an 
atmosphere  of  light,  warmth,  and  freshness  diffused 
around. 

From  that  time,  no  joy  of  ours  was  unshared  with 
him.  And  never  did  he  hear  of  illness  in  our  home 
or  anxiety  in  our  hearts,  without  riding  over  from 
Woolwich  at  the  earliest  time  he  could  command,  to 
comfort  us  with  his  most  understanding  sympathy,  and 
to  strengthen  us  with  his  prayers. 

During  the  summer  and  autumn  after  his  return,  he 


182  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

frequently  accompanied  us  on  our  visits  to  the  navvies 
and  other  workmen,  then  applying  for  admission  to  the 
Army  Works  Corps,  who  assembled  daily  for  hours  in 
the  grounds  of  the  Crystal  Palace ;  and  once  was  able 
to  go  with  my  sister  and  myself  to  Greenhithe,  for  one 
of  our  farewell  interviews  with  these  men,  on  board  the 
ships  sailing  for  the  Crimea.  The  manly  simplicity, 
clearness,  and  vigour  of  his  addresses  to  them,  and 
the  fervour  of  his  prayers,  wore  \eng  remembered  by 
those  who  heard  them. 

The  impression  which  his  brave  and  blameless  char- 
acter produced  i^u*  young  nib  A  <;i  i.:s  own  position 
in  life,  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  sketch 
of  his  character,  by  a  member  of  our  family-circle,  who 
was  at  that-  time  at  home  whilst  awaiting  his  commis- 
sion ;  and  who  was  regarded  by  Arthur  with  great  and 
increasing  affection  from  their  first  acquaintance  : — 

"  You  have  asked  me  to  give  you  my  impressions  of 
dear  Arthur  Vandeleur,  and  I  must  thank  you  for  thus 
putting  it  in  my  mind  to  look  upon  the  pattern  which 
he  has  left.  For  it  is  always  an  edifying  work,  as  well 
as  a  labour  of  love,  to  think  upon  the  finished  course 
of  those,  who  through  faith  and  patience,  inherit  the 
promises. 

"  It  is  only  impressions,  indeed,  that  I  can  give  you  ; 
for  though  I  saw  him  often  during  the  five  last  years 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  183 

of  his  life,  yet  it  was  only  for  a  little  while  at  a  time. 
I  never  was  so  fortunate  as  to  live  with  him.  I  only 
had  passing  glimpses  of  the  fair  stream  of  that  pleasant 
life. 

"  But  I  will  try  and  recall  what  I  thought  of  him,  the 
first  time  I  saw  him  ;  my  first  impression  of  him ; — I 
like  that  word  as  applied  to  him,  because  nobody  could 
see  him  without  being  impressed  by  him  ; — his  manner, 
his  voice,  his  face,  all  impressed  you. 

"  His  manners  were  those  of  a  thorough  gentleman, 
and  something  more.  Your  true  English  gentleman  is 
not  a  man  to  be  liked  very  much  at  first  sight ;  there 
is  too  little  geniality  about  him  for  that.  But  you 
liked  Vandeleur  at  once,  because  you  felt  as  if  he  liked 
you. 

"  There  was  a  frank  openness  and  a  readiness  '  to  be 
friends,'  that  was  very  engaging. 

"  His  was  one  of  those  clear  ringing  voices,  that  re- 
mind one  of  distant  bells.  His  face  was  altogether  an 
uncommon  one.  It  was  handsome,  manly,  expressive, 
and  even  more  than  all  these.  It  seemed  to  me,  beyond 
any  other  man's,  to  deserve  the  epithet  of  '  beautiful.' 

"  The  high  colouring  of  the  cheeks,  although  it  told 
the  sad  story  of  a  setting  sun,  added  to  the  beauty  of 
the  face  in  repose.  It  was  when  thus  quiescent  in 
thought,  that  his  countenance  made  the  greatest  im- 
pression upon  me. 

"  At  such  times  the  deep,  quiet  look  of  that  liquid 


1 84  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

blue  eye  used  to  seein  to  me  to  be  beaming  with  high 
hope,  or  rather  with  a  high  resolve. 

"  And  later,  towards  the  close  of  his  life,  all  could 
see  in  that  clear,  earnest  gaze,  that  he  carried  this 
banner  through  the  field  of  life  :  '  I  believe  in  God  the 
Father  Almighty.' 

"  There  are  men  that  are  flattered,  and  so  there  are 
men  that  are  slandered  by  their  faces.  His  was  not 
only  an  expressive  face,  but  it  was  truly  a  key  to  his 
character,  as  well  as  an  index  to  his  mind.  One  could 
have  said  from  it  that  his  affections  were  very  strong ; 
and  though  manly  and  fearless,  yet  his  look  had  much 
of  woman's  gentleness  in  it.  And  his  was  a  tender  man- 
hood. I  am  inclined  to  think  it  was  all  the  greater  and 
braver  for  being  so.  Moreover,  from  his  face  I  should 
have  said  that  perhaps  his  feelings  were  slightly  too 
sensitive  for  his  own  comfort  in  this  work-a-day  world. 
I  should  have  imagined,  too,  that  his  sense  of  duty  and 
honour  would  be  very  high  pitched,  and  more  so  than 
would  consort  with  selfish,  worldly  wisdom.  His  mind, 
too,  I  think,  set  its  mark  upon  his  features.  His  talents 
were  rather  those  of  acute  observation  and  delicate  per- 
ception, than  of  striking  originality,  excepting  in  scien- 
tific inventions,  in  which  he  excelled.  His  accurate 
knowledge  of  his  duties,  his  love  for  his  profession,  his 
readiness  and  steadiness,  or  as  we  soldiers  call  it '  smart- 
ness,' together  with  his  dashing  gallantry,  and,  no  less 
than  these,  his  cool  intrepidity,  moral  and  physical;  these 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  ]  85 

\ 

things,  I  say,  were  well  known  in  that  branch  of  the 
service  to  which  he  belonged  ; — that  service  which  of 
all  others  makes  the  greatest  calls  upon  those  totally 
different  species  of  power — patient  tenacity  and  prompt 
activity.  His  religion  might  almost  be  seen  in  his 
face.  It  was  eminently  natural  religion.  I  do  not 
mean  that  much-vaunted,  easily-attained,  but  valueless 
and  powerless  thing  that  men  often  call  'natural  re- 
ligion ;'  nor  that  simple  and  sublime  creed  of  a  fruitful 
earth  and  benignant  Providence  that  St  Paul  taught  the 
men  of  Athens,  which  is  the  only  form  of  natural  religion 
that  has  this  principle  for  its  essence  that '  God  is  Love.' 
But  I  mean  rather  that  his  religion  was  just  like  him- 
self. You  never  saw  Vandeleur  without  his  religion. 

"  I  have  said  that  I  saw  him  at  intervals  ;  and  I  must 
add  that  each  successive  meeting  shewed  me  that  his 
light  was  one  '  which  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the 
perfect  day.'  His  was  Christianity  hopeful  and  happy, 
advocated  in  words,  recommended  by  practice,  accepted  in 
heart,  adorned  in  life,  triumphant  in  death,  and,  thanks 
be  unto  God,  now  perfected  in  glory.  How  good  and 
pleasant  a  thing  it  is  in  thought  to  follow  such  a  one 
as  he  '  went  up  through  the  regions  of  the  air,' — '  being 
swallowed  up  with  the  sight  of  angels,  and  with  hearing 
of  their  melodious  notes,  on  within  the  gate  of  the  city.' 
And  how  fully  one  can  enter  into  those  two  sentences, 
which  to  my  mind  express  most  truly  the  feelings  of 
the  Christian  as  he  thus  lingers  on  the  threshold  just 


186  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

crossed  by  a  departed  brother.  The  one,  John  Bun- 
yan's,  when  he  tells  of  Christian's  entrance  into  glory, 
'  which,  when  I  had  seen,  I  wished  myself  among  them.' 
The  other,  the  language  of  our  Church,  when,  after 
praying  for  all  members  of  Christ's  Church  militant 
here  on  earth,  she  recalls  with  fond  remembrance  and 
triumphant  thankfulness,  those  who  have  fought  the 
fight,  and  kept  the  faith,  and  finished  their  course  with 
joy,  and  says,  '  We  also  bless  Thy  holy  Name  for  all 
thy  servants  departed  this  life  in  thy  faith  and  fear.' 

"Surely  these  two  thoughts — the  longing  to  follow 
where  they  have  entered  in,  and  the  deep  sense  of 
thankfulness  that  they  have  been  kept  by  the  power  of 
God  through  faith  unto  salvation — are  those  most 
befitting  the  Christian,  when  he  thinks  of  one  '  who  all 
his  weary  length  of  life  has  trod/  and  is  now  '  a  pillar 
within  the  temple  of  his  God.'" 

Shortly  after  Arthur  Vandeleur's  return  home,  he 
went  to  Ireland,  and  spent  some  time  with  his  friends 
at  Kiltanon.  He  returned  to  England,  brilliant  with 
joy  in  the  realisation  of  the  hope  which  had  been  his 
cherished  dream  from  boyhood.  A  dream  cherished 
alike  through  sunshine  and  shade,  in  presence  and 
hope,  in  silence,  absence,  and  hopelessness,  by  the  un- 
wavering truth  of  that  steadfast  heart.  God  be  praised 
for  the  four  bright  years  of  married  happiness  which 
crowned  his  faithful  love  ! 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  187 

Somewhat  of  a  little  chart  of  his  heart  and  life 
during  the  remainder  of  the  year  may  be  seen  in  the 
following  letters : — 

"  KILTANON,  June  18th,  1855. 

"I  grieve  to  think  that  my  silence  should  have 
caused  you  anxiety  as  to  my  voyage,  &c.  How  un- 
worthy I  am  of  such  kind  and  tender  care.  Your  long 
letter  gave  me  the  greatest  pleasure. 

"  I  forgot  to  enclose  Duncan  Matheson's  letter  in 
my  last.  I  rejoice  to  know  that  his  health  is  sufficiently 
restored  to  enable  him  to  resume  that  most  glorious 
work  of  winning  souls  to  Christ.  As  I  read  his  letter, 
I  regretted  that  I  had  not  known  more,  when  in  the 
Crimea,  of  such  a  devoted  Christian  missionary.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  the  last  supply  of  books  which  you  sent  out 
to  my  care  was  not  lost  by  missing  me.  But  (don't  think 
me  partial !)  I  wished  that  Artillerymen  rather  than  the 
Highlanders  should  have  benefited  by  your  kindness ; 
for  the  Highlanders  are  so  well  looked  after  in  that 
way.  Mr  Matheson  speaks  of  the  prevalence  of  card- 
flaying  in  the  camp.  I  can  confirm  his  testimony,  for 
I,  too,  saw  much  of  it.  Long  have  I  looked  with  horror 
upon  this  vice  of  gambling,  which  engenders  selfishness, 
envy,  hatred,  and  other  evil  passions.  It  is  a  powerful 
weapon  in  Satan's  hands  for  ruining  souls.  Idleness 
has  nourished  this  vice ;  and  so  I  trust  that  a  general 
move  of  our  forces,  from  the  heights  more  into  the 


188  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

interior,  will  tend  to  cheek  it,  by  removing  the  oppor- 
tunities afforded  by  long  residence  in  one  spot. 

"  Will  you  be  so  very  good  as  sometimes  to  let  me 
see  your  Crimean  letters,  particularly  any  from  a 
soldier  or  a  navvy.  Their  letters  are  generally  so 
charming.  Yesterday,  I  saw  one  from  a  man  (a 
countryman  of  mine,  I  need  hardly  tell  you  after  you 
have  heard  the  quotation)  to  his  wife ;  the  first  half  of 
the  letter  was  written  in  ink,  the  last  in  pencil,  '  because 
a  cannon-shot  had  just  come  in  and  knocked  over  his 
ink-bottle !  and  killed  four  men  alongside  of  him  ! ! ' 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  hear  from  Major  Ingram.  He  is 
a  fine  fellow ;  so  steady  and  consistent  in  his  Christian 
conduct — graces  which  I  so  much  need.  Do,  my  very 
dear  friend,  pray  God  to  give  me  these,  especially.  I 
prize  your  prayers  so  much.  It  seems  to  me  that  '  He 
heareth  you  always.'  Bless  you  for  praying  for  me. 

"  Major  Ingram  and  I  have  several  times  prayed 
together  in  camp.  When  you  write,  tell  him  that  I 
remember  him  most  affectionately. 

"  I  cannot  wonder  at  your  faith  for  answers  to  prayer 
for  the  things  of  this  temporal  life,  being  shaken  by  the 
death  of  one  so  precious  and  so  much  prayed  for  as 
Hedley  Vicars.  It  is  hard  to  understand  the  where- 
fore. But  as  that  which  you  loved  best  in  him  was 
the  image  of  Jesus  ;  as  He  was  '  all  in  all '  even  in 
Hedley  Vicars  to  you  ;  He  still  remains  '  all  in  all '  to 
you,  and  to  one  still  more  deeply  afflicted  by  this  great 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  189 

loss But  if  it  was  contrary  to  some  of  your 

earnest  prayers,  it  was  and  is  in  answer  to  others  of 
your  prayers,  perhaps  overlooked  by  you  now,  but 
surely  not  less  earnest,  nor  less  remembered  of  God. 
You  asked  for  spiritual  blessings  for  him  almost  with- 
out measure,  and  who  shall  number  them  now  ?  And 
you  asked  for  the  outpouring  of  the  blessed  Holy 
Spirit  upon  our  soldiers  and  our  sailors,  and  you  are 
still  imploring  the  same,  with  ten  thousand  others  of 
Christ's  people.  Perhaps  God  knew  that  the  Memoir 
you  have  been  requested  to  write  of  our  beloved  friend, 
would  be  the  very  thing  to  promote  spiritual  life 
amongst  those  whose  souls  you  plead  for.  'A  real 
Christian  and  a  fearless  soldier ; — is  there  in  the  world 
a  finer  character  ? '  is  a  question  on  the  lips  of  many 
now.  And  Hedley  Vicars'  Life  and  Correspondence 
will  go  further  towards  answering  the  question  whether 
the  two  can  be  combined,  and  settling  the  point  on  the 
side  of  our  God  and  His  Christ,  than  even  the  grand 
old  Life  of  Colonel  Gardiner — at  least,  so  I  think 
And  I  earnestly  pray  that  it  may  prove  to  be  so.  And 
then  your  hearts  will  be  cheered  by  the  knowledge  that 
'he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh'  to  his  Master's  honour. 
Surely  this  will  be  a  comfort  to  you — and  to  her.  *  *  * 
"  Kiltanon  is  a  delightful  spot ;  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  places  in  the  country.  I  am  enjoying  the 
society  of  my  cousins  most  entirely.  This  is  a  family 
in  which  I  have  long  found  the  delights  of  Christian 


J  90  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

intercourse  and  fellowship.  I  should  be  glad  if  you 
knew  them. 

"  You  asked  me  to  let  you  know  what  I  was  doing 
at  Ralahine.  On  Saturday,  I  went  over  to  see  my 
tenants,  about  ten  miles  from  this  place.  They  were 
all  delighted  to  see  me,  and  I  felt  my  heart  warm 
towards  them  as  their  honest  welcome  rang  in  my  ears. 
A  better-disposed  set  of  men  are  not  to  be  found  in 
this  country.  I  was  deeply  grieved,  however,  to  find 
my  school  still  unattended,  and  called  them  all  in  there, 
and  earnestly  expostulated  with  them  about  the  neglect 
of  their  children,  till  I  actually  found  myself  giving 
them  something  like  a  sermon. 

"  But  I  fear,  as  yet,  that  all  my  efforts  will  be  in  vain  : 
the  priests  have  too  much  influence,  and  have  already 
commenced  their  persecutions.  On  Friday,  I  found 

that  Father had  held  a  '  station '  at  the  house  of 

one  who  seems  most  to  favour  my  views.  (A  '  station ' 
is  a  public  meeting.)  He  made  the  poor  man's  wife 
kneel  before  him,  and  then,  in  the  presence  of  the 
assembled  crowd,  refused  to  give  her  absolution,  unless 
she  would  promise  never  again  to  admit  the  school- 
master to  read  the  Bible  to  her :  she  would  not  promise, 
and  had  to  rise  unabsolved. 

"But,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  I  will  persevere  in 
doing  my  duty  by  them ;  and  I  have  a  strong  hope 
that  our  efforts  will  one  day  be  crowned  with  success, 
as  their  eyes  are  being  gradually  opened,  and  many  of 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  191 

them  continue  to  read  the  Word  of  God,  notwithstand- 
ing the  denunciation  of  Father .  Pray  for  them 

sometimes,  will  you?  Give  them  a  corner  in  your 
heart,  with  the  five  hundred  navvies  just  sailing  for 
the  Crimea." 

"  July  5th. — The  very  day  I  wrote  to  you  last,  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  informing  me  of  my  appointment  to  the 
Arsenal  (as  Captain  Instructor)  being  sanctioned,  and 
requiring  my  immediate  presence  at  Woolwich.  Of 
course,  I  set-off  the  following  day.  1  have,  as  you 
may  imagine,  plenty  to  do,  and  am  in  a  very  unsettled 
state,  without  a  house  or  servants  as  yet ;  but  for  all 
this,  I  would  not  have  let  three  days  elapse  before  writ- 
ing to  inform  you  of  my  good  fortune.  I  know  well 
from  whom  this  blessing  comes,  and  most  truly  do  I 
desire  to  fill  my  new  post  entirely  to  His  glory.  Most 
cordially  do  I  join  with  you  in  praying  that,  hour  by 
hour,  God  the  Holy  Spirit  would  give  us  more  of  Him- 
self ;  having  Him,  we  need  no  more.  Oh,  how  much  do 
we  need  His  enlightening  and  sanctifying  influences  in 

these  days  of  error,  of  ungodliness I  had  the 

very  great  pleasure  of  meeting  dear  Mr  Chalmers  and  his 
pleasant  son  yesterday  evening,  at  the  house  of  our  mu- 
tual friend,  Colonel  Anderson.  A  most  delightful  even- 
ing we  spent,  with  the  10th  of  St  John  for  our  subject." 

".  .  .  .  July  16th. — I  long  to  introduce  my  Mary 
to  you.  I  know  you  will  keep  your  promise  to  love 


1 92  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

her ;  and  find  it  easy  work,  indeed.  For  twelve  years 
I  have  loved  her,  and  every  successive  year  more  and 
more,  as  I  saw  deeper  into  her  character. 

"  I  am  looking  for  great  blessing  to  us  both  from 
your  mother-sisterly  love  and  friendship.  Yet  all 
earthly  love  is  but  a  faint  reflection  of  the  infinite, 
everlasting,  and  most  glorious  love  of  our  God  and 
Saviour.  Oh,  to  realise  the  depths  of  that !  We  shall 
know  it  deeply  here,  and  perfectly  hereafter,  and  in  that 
will  be  fulness  of  joy.  Ever  your  son  and  brother  in 
Christ  Jesus  our  Beloved/' 

"  ROYAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS,  WOOLWICH, 

MIDNIGHT,  July  26th. 

"  1  cannot  rest  without  sending  a  line  of  thanks  to 
you,  for  your  trusting  kindness  in  allowing  me  to  carry 
away  for  a  day,  that  splendid,  characteristic  letter  of 
him  who  is  still — and  for  ever — so  deservedly  loved  by 
you  all.  It  is  charming,  from  beginning  to  end  ;  but  it 
is  in  that  part  of  the  letter  in  which  he  speaks  of  the 
separation  from  sympathising  spirits — making  the 
Lord  Jesus  so  precious  to  his  soul,  that  the  force  of 
his  religious  character,  or  rather  the  reality  of  his 
faith,  comes  out.  But  a  short  time,  comparatively, 
a  soldier  of  the  Cross,  how  quickly  he  had  passed 
through  all  the  lower  grades,  and  to  what  a  high 
position  had  he  attained. 

"  Independently  of  the  large  measure  of  grace  re- 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  193 

quired,  before  any  one  could  feel  that  the  loss  of  fellow- 
ship with  Christians  increases  the  enjoyment  of  fellow- 
ship with  Christ ;  it  also  demands  a  determination  of 
will  and  mental  energy,  to  overcome  the  difficulties  of 
such  a  position  ;  such  as  Joshua  shewed,  when  he  said, 
*  As  for  me,  I  WILL  serve  the  Lord.' 

<k  I  fear  I  am  not  nearly  so  far  advanced.  In  the 
Crimea,  my  heart  was  not  so  happy,  because  not  so 
holy,  as  when  I  enjoyed  more  frequently  the  external 
means  of  grace.  At  times,  I  was  permitted  to  drink 
deep  at  the  Fountain-head ;  but  I  missed  the  streams 
sadly.  It  is  only  character  of  the  highest  order  that 
can  thoroughly  overcome  the  force  of  circumstances. 
But  the  promise  stands  true  for  the  weakest,  of  over- 
coming strength  from  above :  '  My  grace  is  sufficient 
for  thee.'  Oh,  for  a  deeper  insight  into  the  fulness  of 
grace  and  weight  of  glory  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  for 
«s. 

"  God  for  ever  bless  you  !  I  am  unworthy  to  be 
placed  (however  much  smaller  the  niche)  beside  that 
noble  Christian,  Hedley  Vicars,  in  your  'mother- 
sisterly  '  heart ;  and  yet  I  believe  God  has  given  me  a 
place  there,  and  will  keep  it  for  me  always.  God  for 
ever  bless  you  and  yours.  Ever  your  most  grateful 
and  affectionate  AKTHUK  VANDELEUE." 

"  ROYAL  ARTILLERY  BAIIRACKS,  WOOLWICH, 
Awjust  22nd. 

"  Most  warmly  and  sincerely  do  I  sympathise  with 
N 


194  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

you  in  these  new  trials  :  but  oh  !  how  much  of  comfort 
is  there  in  the  thought  that  our  heavenly  Father  sepa- 
rates us  but  for  a  short  time  from  those  whom  He 
takes  away,  and  that  they  are  happy  in  the  presence 
of  the  King  of  kings.  And  there  is  also  that  still 
more  precious  thought  of  consolation  to  those  bereaved, 
that  the  void  left  in  a  Christian  heart  when  deprived 
of  a  friend  most  dear,  is  always  filled  by  Him  who 
'  well  deserves  the  name  of  Friend,'  and  whose  love 
alone  is  satisfying  to  an  immortal  soul.  You  have  no 
doubt  often  thought  deeply  on  that  beautiful  passage, 
'  These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribulation, 
and  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb,'  &c.  Oh,  what  a  world  of 
meaning  and  joy  to  the  Christian  there  is,  in  the  whole 
of  that  passage.  It  is  not  only  trouble,  but  the  state 
of  trouble,  '  tribulation,'  and  not  only  that,  but  '  great 
tribulation  ; '  and  yet  every  one  of  that  countless  multi- 
tude came  safe  out  of  all,  preserved  by  boundless- 
power  and  grace.  Oh,  that  at  the  cost  of  any  amount 
of  sorrow  or  suffering,  we  may  be  included  among  that 
multitude  of  redeemed  and  sanctified  ones." 

"August  27th, 

"  So,  many  thanks  for  your  two  notes.  My  spirits 
are  just  like  a  barometer,  easily  raised  or  depressed, 
but  your  dear  notes  always  cause  the  index  to  point 
very  high  indeed. 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  1 95 

"  I  hope  you  found  tolerably  calm ;  how  I 

should  have  liked  to  hear  you  speaking  words  of  com- 
fort to  her  troubled  heart.  How  difficult  it  is  so  to 
do  !  But  I  know  you  take  the  Saviour's  own  way,  and 
'  weep  with  them  that  weep/  and  then  point  to  the  un- 
speakable blessing  of  a  certain  and  glorious,  because 
Christ-like,  resurrection  :  and  that  must  give  comfort. 

"  I  hope,  God  willing,  to  go  over  and  see  you  all  to- 
morrow. Dear  Colonel  Anderson's  absence  in  Scotland, 
for  a  month,  sets  me  free  on  that  evening  ;  but  Wednes- 
day evening  is  devoted  to  my  trumpeters'  class,  in  the 
Barrack  Chapel. 

"  I  have  achieved  a  glorious  triumph  with  the  fever 
tincture :  I  have  made  a  Doctor  (I)  a  convert  to  its 
efficacy  by  personal  experience.  He  has  suffered  from 
ague  for  eighteen  months,  and  is  now  cured.  One 
bottle  effected  it.  I  enclose  his  letter. 

"  With  very  kind  love,  and  a  multitude  of  blessings, 
ever  your  deeply-attached  son  and  brother." 

"  WOOLWICH,  August  31st. 

"  That  I  have  found  a  second  home,  within  reach  of 
Woolwich,  in  'blessed  Beckenham  Rectory/  is,  I  am 
satisfied,  one  of  the  greatest  proofs  of  the  mercy  and 
love  of  my  God  which  could  be  given  me.  In  the  bright 
future,  which  I  humbly  trust,  if  it  be  my  God's  will,  is 
before  me,  one  of  my  brightest  day-dreams  of  anticipa- 
tion is,  to  have  you  and  yours  staying  with  us  and  bless- 


196  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

ing  us  by  your  society,  counsel,  and  encouragement. 
I  know  you  will  come  and  make  our  hearts  glad  by 
your  presence. 

"How  truly  delightful  to  me  are  those  few  hours 
which  from  time  to  time  I  can  spend  at  Beckenham. 
I  often  wish  I  could  get  away  at  more  seasonable 
hours,  but  I  fear  that  is  impossible  without  defrauding 
her  Majesty;  and,  as  I  'honour  the  Queen'  with  my 
whole  heart,  I  try  to  give  her  the  best  service  I  pos- 
sibly can,  by  remaining  diligently  at  my  post,  and 
working  to  the  best  of  my  ability  while  I  am  there. 

"  I  am  glad  you  like  my  thought  about  Christian 
and  Faithful,  and  Christian  and  Hopeful.  Did  any 
ever  better  deserve  the  name  of  'Faithful'  than  Hedley 
Vicars  ?  To  me  it  describes  him  exactly.  Strong  in 
faith,  vigorous  and  unswerving  in  practice,  and  devoted 
to  the  grand  and  soul-absorbing  idea,  '  Christ  All  in 
all.'  Such  was  the  impression  he  left  upon  my  mind 
when  we  communed  together,  in  camp  before  Sebas- 
topol.  And  the  simile  bears  to  be  drawn  out  further ; 
he  died  truly  in  'Vanity  Fair;'  and  I  verily  believe 
that  what  was  said  of  the  martyrs  of  old,  will  be  found 
true  of  him,  '  The  blood  of  the  righteous  is  the  seed 
of  the  Church.' 

"  God  grant  me  grace  always  to  be  '  looking  unto 
Jesus/  as  Hopeful  was!  How  greatly  I  desire  to 
be  able  to  reckon  myself  among  the  diligent  of  the 
earth,  in  the  cause  of  Christ  f  I  am  not  yet,  I  fear, 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  197 

though  I  am  constantly  aiming  at  it.  May  grace, 
mercy,  and  peace  be  multiplied  to  you  and  yours,  is 
the  prayer  of  your  ever  affectionate  son  and  brother, 

"  AKTHUK  VANDELEUR." 


"  ROYAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS,  WOOLWICH, 
September  Uth,  1855. 

"Your  precious  little  note  I  found  awaiting  my  return 
from  London,  yesterday  evening.  How  shall  I  thank 
you  for  it,  and  for  lending  me  those  two  invaluable 
letters ;  they  refreshed  and  delighted  my  heart  and 
soul  They  do  give  me  an  insight  into  Hedley's  noble 
mind  and  tender  heart.  It  must  be  an  unspeakable 
comfort  to  you  all,  to  know  that  that  heart  and  soul  are 
now  where  they  long  wished  to  be,  and  where  we  hope 
(in  its  full  meaning  implying  expectation)  to  meet  again, 
where  there  shall  be  no  more  separation,  even  in  the 
presence  of  the  God  of  Love. 

'  Will  he  there  no  fond  emotion, 

Thought  of  early  love,  retain  ? 
Or,  absorb'd  in  pure  devotion, 
Will  no  mortal  trace  remain  ? 

'Can  the  grave  those  ties  dissever 

With  the  very  heart-strings  twined  f 
Must  he  part,  and  part  for  ever, 

With  the  friends  he  leaves  behind  ? 

'No,  the  past  he  still  remembers  I 
Faith  and  Hope,  surviving  too, 
Ever  watch  those  sleeping  embera 
Which  must  rise  and  live  anew.' 


198  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

"  And  now  I  must  say  '  adieu/  which  in  its  original 
and  full  significance  comes  from  my  inmost  soul." 

"September  5th,  1855. 

"  I  have  been  sadly  disappointed  at  not  being  able  to 
find  any  leisure  time  for  the  last  three  days,  in  which  to 
write  a  few  lines  to  express  my  heartfelt  thanks  for 
your  charming  little  present.  Even  now  I  have  but  a 
few  moments,  while  the  workmen  are  at  dinner ;  but  I 
can  no  longer  deny  myself  the  pleasure  that  it  always 
gives  me  to  chat  with  you  on  paper.  You  will  be  glad  to 
know  that  this  little  volume  of  Sacred  Poetry  is,  and 
ever  will  be,  one  of  my  greatest  treasures.  A  thousand 
thanks  for  it,  and  still  more  for  all  you  have  written 
in  it.  It  has  long  been  a  favourite  book  with  me,  but 
my  former  copy  was  given  away,  before  I  went  to  the 
Crimea,  and  has  not  since  been  replaced.  So  this  one 
is  doubly  welcome,  coming  from  such  loved  hands.  It 
shall  be  my  constant  companion  in  railway  and  steam- 
boat— it  made  a  trip  with  me  yesterday  to  London, 
and  warmed  and  cheered  my  heart  beyond  measure. 
The  hymn  which  I  learned  was  that  delightful  one,  so 
full  of  harmony  of  heart  and  sound, 

'  How  sweet  is  morn's  first  breeze  that  strays  011  the  mountain, 
And  sighs  o'er  its  bosom  and  murmurs  away ; 

****** 
But  sweeter,  my  God,  is  Thy  voice  of  compassion, 
That  soft  as  the  summer-dew  falls  on  the  mind.' 

You  know  it,  no  doubt,  and  if  so,  I  am  sure  you  will 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  199 

join  with  me  in  loving  it.  I  see  you  have  marked 
another  of  my  favourites,  'The  Reverie.'  That  one 
falls  in  more  completely  with  my  mind  and  feelings 
than  perhaps  any  other.  Every  thought  it  contains 
I  have  laid  up  in  my  storehouse  of  wisdom  and  know- 
ledge. The  said  storehouse  has,  however,  as  yet,  few 
bales  of  goods  !  But  I  rejoice  to  think  that  more  are 
being  added  to  it  daily,  and  much  through  your  kind- 
ness, several  of  my  best  being  from  Hawker's  '  morning 
portion.' 

"  It  made  me  quite  happy  when  I  read  your  extract 
from  Jeremy  Taylor ;  it  was  one  of  the  first  extracts  I 
ever  made,  when  I  began  to  think  seriously,  and  act 
from  those  solemn  thoughts.  You  could  not  have 
chosen  a  more  acceptable  passage,  particularly  when  I 
think  of  the  application  you  intended  to  make  of  it. 
You  are  too  good  and  kind  to  me. 

"  I  rejoice  to  tell  you  that  the  elder  of  my  cousins 
has  been  successful,  and  has  obtained  a  very  good  place 
among  those  who  have  received  provisional  commis- 
sions. The  dear  fellow,  when,  after  the  examination, 
I  spoke  to  him  earnestly  on  the  importance  of  at  once 
deciding  for  Christ,  said  that,  with  God's  help,  he  would 
do  so.  Blessed  be  God,  I  think  His  grace  is  deep  in 
that  young  heart.  You  must  have  a  long  and  encour- 
aging talk  with  him,  when  I  bring  him  to  Beckenham. 
I  am  sure  you  will  like  him — he  is  so  clever,  sensible, 
and  well-informed. 


200  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

"  I  am  almost  bewildered  with  firing  great  guns  all 
the  morning,  and  have  to  be  at  it  again  now  ;  so 
please  excuse  all  blunders ;  and  give  my  reverential 
love  to  your  beloved  father  ;  and  much  love  to  all  be- 
longing to  him." 

"EOTAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS,  WOOLWICH, 
October  5th,  1855. 

"  ....  It  is  so  very  good  of  you  to  tell  me  from  time 
to  time  about  the  work  you  are  engaged  in  for  our  be- 
loved Lord  and  Master :  it  has  a  wonderful  influence 
over  my  failing  energies,  and  invariably  rouses  me  up 
(thank  God !)  to  renewed  activity.  Oh,  how  precious  and 
delightful  is  it,  to  be  permitted  to  speak  a  word  or  do 
the  most  trifling  deed  from  love  and  gratitude  to  Him. 
How  strange,  then,  that  we  are  not — or  rather,  that  / 
am  not — always  engaged  in  this  blessed  work.  I  know 
well  how  deeply  you  have  enjoyed  the  calm  and  precious 
satisfaction,  of  soul  which  Jesus  gives  to  those  who,  in 
simple  faith,  endeavour  to  work  for  Him  ;  and,  I  trust 
that  I  am  beginning — but,  oh,  at  what  a  great  distance 
— to  follow  in  the  same  steps  and  to  drink  of  the  same 
river  of  life.  What  a  joy  to  think,  that  though  our  feel- 
ings of  love  wax  faint  and  cold,  and  even  appear  to 
ourselves  to  die,  His  love  is  unchangeable,  and  shall 
never  cease,  either  in  this  world  or  in  the  world  to  come. 

"  Put  me  in  any  garret  when  I  go  to  you,  if  your 
'  sea-villa '  is  as  well  filled  as  Beckeuham  Rectory.  I 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  201 

rather  prefer  a  small  room  ;  it  makes  one  feel  one's-self 
of  more  importance :  one  is  lost  in  a  great  space.  I 
should  fancy  this  kind  of  idea  must  have  been  in  the 
minds  of  the  Romans  ;  for,  as  a  nation,  they  built  im- 
mense palaces  and  public  halls  ;  but  their  private  dwell- 
ings were  so  small  that  one  wonders  how  a  great 
Roman  senator,  with  his  toga,  could  ever  manage  to 
get  into  his  own  house.  So  you  see,  if  I  have  a  little 
room,  you  must  allow  me  to  consider  myself  of  some 
importance,  while  in  it  and  fast  asleep  ! " 
\ 

Whilst  we  were  spending  a  short  time  by  the  sea-side, 
I  received  a  letter  from  Arthur,  alluding  to,  rather  than 
explaining,  some  great  trouble  which  had  come  upon 
him.  This  was  connected,  as  I  afterwards  learned, 
with  those  trials  of  his  mother's,  of  years  before, 
which,  in  his  boyhood,  he  had  vainly  sought  to  in- 
duce her  to  share  with  him.  The  whole  tone  of  the 
letter  was  so  unhappy,  that  I  could  not  but  feel 
that  his  mother,  or  his  sister,  had  she  been  within 
reach  of  him,  under  such  circumstances,  would  have 
tried  to  make  a  home  for  him,  for  a  few  days'  change 
of  scene,  and  of  quiet  thought  and  prayer  as  to 
the  best  course  for  him  to  take.  Accordingly,  I  re- 
turned at  once  for  a  few  days  to  Beckenham  Rectory, 
where  some  members  of  my  family  were  remaining, 
whilst  the  rest  were  by  the  sea-side ;  and  we  invited  him 
to  join  us  there. 


202  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

The  calm  of  a  Sabbath  in  that  happy  home,  and  the 
companionship  and  counsel  of  my  brother-in-law,* 
between  whom  and  Arthur  Vandeleur  there  was  an 
affection  almost  fatherly  on  the  one  side,  and  filial  on 
the  other,  contributed  not  a  little  to  soothe  and  cheer 
his  spirit — a  spirit  so  child-like  and  buoyant,  that  when 
the  immediate  pressure  of  a  burden  was  removed,  even 
for  a  day,  it  sprang  up  again  as  joyously  as  ever  ;  and 
his  light,  pleasant,  ringing  laugh  would  rejoice  the 
hearts  of  those  around  him. 

It  was  for  the  little  act  of  friendship  just  alluded  to, 
that  his  grateful  heart  overflowed  in  the  following 
•words : — 

"KoYAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS, 
October  Utk,  1855. 

"  How  shall  I  thank  you  as  I  would,  for  your  true- 
hearted  mother-like  kindness  and  goodness  to  me  ;  for 
the  comfort  of  your  prayers  and  faithful  counsel,  and 
for  your  deep,  entire  sympathy.  Never  shall  I  forget 
the  promptness  of  that  unselfish  friendship ;  nor  the 
feeling  of  being  a  son  at  home,  which  came  to  me  with 
a  sight  of  your  kindly  face. 

"  For  all  this,  and  for  those  two  strengthening, 
cheering  days  at  Beckenham,  in  such  a  time  of  need, 
I  bless  you  now  ;  and  shall  be  able  to  thank  you  bet- 
ter, in  the  world  to  which  my  friendships  in  that  sweet 
homo  have  drawn  me  nearer. 

*  Rev.  Frederick  Chalmers,  Rector  of  Beckenham. 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  203 

"  God  for  ever  bless  you  with  all  the  riches  of  His 
grace  and  love  in  Jesus  Christ !  Had  He  not  revealed 
Himself  to  me  so  graciously  during  those  two  ever-to- 
be-remembered  days,  my  distress  of  mind  would  have 
been  great  indeed,  during  the  whole  of  this  trial.  But 
since  those  days,  (the  Sabbath,  especially,)  I  have  utterly 
trusted  Him,  that  out  of  this  great  evil  He  would  bring 
glory  to  Himself  and  good  to  my  soul 

"I  intrust  to  you  my  warm  thanks  to  dear  Mr 
Chalmers.  Gratefully  do  I  prize  his  kindness,  his  affec- 
tion, and  his  counsel ;  and  feel  the  value  of  his  sound, 
clear  understanding,  and  tender  sympathy. 

"  On  my  return  to  Woolwich,  I  referred  the  matter 
(as  he  and  I  had  agreed  upon)  to  three  of  the  most 
judicious  of  my  brother-officers  at  Woolwich.  And 
now  you  will  see  how  satisfactory  is  their  decision 
upon  the  subject." 

*  *  *  *  » 

"  Oh !  for  the  spirit  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  that 
I  might  be  able  to  express  in  words  and  acts,  the  in- 
tense gratitude  and  love  which  fill  my  soul,  to  Him 
who  has  turned  away  His  anger  from  me,  and  is  now 
beaming  forth  in  all  the  beauty  of  His  glorious  counte- 
nance, upon  His  unworthy  servant,  from  behind  the 
thick  thunder-cloud.  Surely  it  becomes  me  to  join  heart 
and  soul  with  the  Psalmist,  and  exclaim,  '  What  shall 
I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  kindness  towards  me  ? ' 
He  will  shew  me  what,  and  how,  and  where  ;  and  will 


204  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

give  me  strength  to  perform  my  vows.  I  even  now 
fancy  you  sent  me  the  very  text  suited  to  me — '  Peace, 
always,  by  all  means  ;'  and  sent  of  God,  in  His,  not  my 
way.  I  hope  to  write  to  dear  Mr  Chalmers  to-morrow, 
and  tell  him  all  that  has  happened  since  we  parted. 
Pray  send  him  my  affectionate  love  for  his  great  sym- 
pathy and  kindness.  I  fear  all  is  not  over  yet.  '  The 
Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress  and  DELIVERER,'  and 
out  of  even  that  trial,  He  will  bring  me  safe,  if  He 
suffer  me  to  be  led  into  it.  May  He  do  anything  that 
will  bring  me  closer  to  Himself,  and  make  me  lean 

more  completely  upon  Him Grace,  mercy,  and 

peace  be  multiplied  unto  you — God  bless  you/' 

"  November  3rd. 

" .  .  .  .  Surely  the  great  lesson  those  painful  part- 
ings are  meant  to  teach,  is  that  we  should  endeavour 
more  constantly  than  we  do  to  realise  the  presence  of 
our  Great  Friend,  Counsellor  and  Brother,  from  the 
fullest  enjoyment  of  whose  society  no  power  need  ever 
separate  us,  no  not  for  one  moment ;  and  whose  love 
for  us  is  so  tender  that  He  is  grieved  when  we  forget 
or  undervalue  this  promise, '  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor 
forsake  thee/  And  then  the  truth  and  love  of  our 
covenant  God  enables  us  to  cast  all  our  care  for  those 
we  love  upon  Him  who  '  careth  for  us/  And  we  do 
know  that  the  Lord  loveth  to  comfort  His  people 

"We  had  a  delightful  army  prayer-unipn  meeting 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  205 

at  Captain  Tilley's  house  on  the  1st,  to  remember  our 
brothers  in  the  Crimea.  Our  chapter  was  Hebrews  iv. 
We  had  a  good  deal  of  conversation  on  the  point  as 
to  whether  that  verse,  '  The  Word  of  God  is  quick 
and  powerful,  and  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,' 
referred  to  the  Bible,  or  whether  the  whole  passage  re- 
fers to  the  Lord  Jesus.  I  should  like  to  know  what  you 
think  ;  and  please  ask  your  beloved  father,  who  is  wis- 
dom itself. 

"  And  now  it  is  already  Sunday  morning,  so  I  must 
close.  A  thousand  thanks  for  your  dear  letter  of  sym- 
pathy and  congratulation — it  is  very  dear  to  me.  May 
God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  bless,  preserve, 
and  keep  you. 

"  ROYAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS. 

"  How  glad  I  am  that  Frederick  Chalmers  has  been 
appointed  to  the  Rifle-Brigade.  It  is  a  charming 
corps,  and  bears  a  noble  character,  in  every  way. 

"  God  grant  that  the  career  of  a  soldier  may  prove  to 
dear  Fred,  one  of  honour,  prosperity,  and  joy :  and 
that  he  may  never  forget  to  hold  as  his  guiding  prin- 
ciple, the  promise  of  the  Lord  Jehovah,  '  Them  that 
honour  Me,  I  will  honour.'  May  he  be  led  to  fix  his 
whole  choice  at  once  upon  God  for  his  Master.  It 
will  be  easier  now  than  ever  again.  And  the  undi- 
vided heart,  surrendered  in  youth  to  the  best  of  Mas- 
ters, has  a  double  blessing  resting  upon  it  in  the  years 


206  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

of  manhood.  May  his  prayer  be  '  Unite  my  heart  to 
fear  Thy  name/ 

"How  truly  has  it  been  said,  our  Divine  Kedeemer 
did  not  say  '  Ye  must  not,'  or  '  Ye  shall  not,'  but  '  Ye 
CANNOT  serve  God  and  Mammon.' 

"  A  whole  heart  for  the  Lord  Jesus,  '  who  loved  us 
and  gave  Himself  for  us ; '  and  a  whole  life  to  follow  it, 
is  that  which  you,  and  I  too,  desire  for  ourselves,  and 
all  those  dear  to  us. 

"  Give  my  love  to  Fred.,  and  tell  him  how  glad  I 
am  to  have  him  as  '  one  of  us ; '  though  he  is  not  in 
the  branch  of  the  service  that  I  love  best. 

"  Tell  him,  he  must  get  leave  to  be  present  at  my 
marriage.  I  look  to  him  as  an  important  actor  on  that 
occasion, — now,  I  trust,  not  very  far  distant.  Oh  how 
can  I  bless  and  praise  my  good  God  as  I  would,  for  all 
the  happiness  and  blessings  which  He  has  rained  down 
upon  me." 

"  ROYAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS,  WOOLWICH, 
November  28th,  1 855. 

".  .  .  .  Well,  I  do  feel  for  you,  most  heartily,  in 
this  mysterious  loss  of  two  of  your  manuscript  chap- 
ters of  the  Memoir  ;*  and  at  a  time  when  every  hour 
of  your  day  is  interrupted  by  arrivals  of  the  men  of 
the  Army  Works  Corps.  It  was  a  subject  worthy  of 
having  a  good  cry  over!  But  now  that  is  done — 

*  Of  Captain  Vicars. 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  207 

take  heart  again  !  I  am  looking  for  very  great  bless- 
ing from  our  God  through  that  record  of  His  grace 
— and  especially  to  see  it  made  useful  to  many  of 
our  soldiers.  Therefore,  I  pray  that  nothing  may 
discourage  you  from  finishing  it — and  that  right 
quickly. 

"  How  that  humble  and  holy-hearted  Christian  will 
bless  and  praise  his  God,  in  Heaven,  when  he  learns 
(as  learn  he  will,  I  doubt  not)  that  the  simple  record  of 
the  grace  of  Christ,  which  was  so  strong  in  him,  is 
made  use  of  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  light  others  on  the 
way  to  glory.  In  a  word,  to  lead  them  to  Jesus,  '  the 
Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life/  .... 

"  What  can  it  matter  to  one  who  is  a  saint  in 
Heaven,  if  every  thought  of  his  heart  were  revealed  to 
an  audience,  consisting  of  the  whole  world  on  earth,  if 
the  grace  of  God  were  to  be  magnified  by  it ;  and  the 
salvation  which  is  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  made  more 
glorious  and  precious  in  the  eyes  of  others. 

"  Do  not  fear  that  it  will  fail  to  speak  with  power  to 
many  a  heart,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  if  only  you  will 
tell  the  whole  story, — the  story  of  a  sinner  saved  by 
grace,  who  washed  his  robes  and  made  them  white  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ;  and  who  overcame  the  world, 
and  sin,  and  the  devil,  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and 
the  power  of  His  Holy  Spirit.  And  the  story  of 
a  man  with  affection,  friendship,  and  love,  warm  in  his 
heart ;  a  brave,  good  soldier,  too ;  and  all  this  simply 


208  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

and  entirely  consecrated  to  the  glory  of  his  God  and 
Saviour.  .... 

*  *  *  *  * 

"  Frail,  human  nature  is  prone  to  think  of,  and  look 
out  for,  only  its  own  happiness  and  honour ;  but  what- 
ever we  may  look  for,  His  glory  is  the  grand  result 
which  the  Christian's  God  will  manifest  unto  him  ;  and 
will  train  him  up  to  seeking,  as  his  first  object.  Thank 
God,  both  you  and  I  can  say,  Be  it  so,  0  Lord ;  may 
we  see  Thy  glory,  and  delight  ourselves  in  it,  and  Thy 
likeness  in  ourselves  and  those  dear  to  us ;  then,  in- 
deed, shall  we  be  satisfied. 

"Thank  you  and  bless  you  for  your  most  valued 
letter.  I  will  say  nothing  now  about  its  contents ;  as  I 

must  be  off  in  a  few  minutes  to  teach  my  class 

I  am  hoping  to  write  to  dearest  Mr  Chalmers  to  thank 
him  for  the  book  he  brought  over  for  me  yesterday ; 
please  give  him  my  most  grateful  thanks,  and  tell  him 
I  shall  enjoy  its  perusal  excessively.  May  he  and  you, 
and  I,  and  all  we  love,  daily  know  more  of  the  depth 
of  the  love  which  is  in  the  heart  of  Christ  Jesus,  our 
beloved  Lord  and  Master,  for  us ;  and  may  He  now 
and  ever  be  our  ALL  in  all  things,  and  in  every  body. 

"  How  much  do  we  see  of  His  likeness,  in  your  most 
beautiful  and  venerable  father.  The  atmosphere  of 
love  and  peace  which  seems  ever  around  him,  is  indeed 
a  breath  of  heaven's  own  air.  God  grant  he  may  be 
long  preserved  to  you,  and  to  the  Church  of  God  !" 


HOPES  FULFILLED.  209 

"December  SQtk,  1855. 

" ....  I  cannot  retire  without  first  sending  you  a 
short  note,  to  bless  you  from  mine  inmost  heart  for 
your  most  welcome  and  invaluable  letter  of  advice, 
and  for  the  precious  and  beautiful  Paragraph  Bible, 
and  all  that  is  written  inside.  It  would  be  quite  in 
vain  for  me  to  attempt  to  express  all  I  feel ;  but  be- 
lieve me,  the  remembrance  of  all  you  have  done  for 
me,  and  these  kindnesses  in  particular,  will  remain  in 
my  heart  as  long  as  life  shall  last.  The  Lord  reward 
you  for  all  your  prayers  for  us !  My  precious  Mary 
and  I  do  fervently  desire  to  live  entirely  according  to 
the  will  of  God;  to  be  'not  conformed  to  this  world, 
but  to  be  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  our  mind.' 
....  There  is  so  much  joy  and  happiness  in  receiv- 
ing tokens  of  friendship  and  affection,  that  one  would 
be  inclined  to  doubt  the  truth  of  that  saying  of  Holy 
Writ,  'It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive/ 
were  it  not  that  giving  is  the  special  property  of  our 
God ;  it  is  one  of  His  peculiar  enjoyments,  and  He 
has  pronounced  it  to  be  even  more  delightful  than 
that  which  makes  us  so  happy,  receiving  and  possess- 
ing His  good  gifts. 

"The  delightful  feeling  which  we  have  in  denying 
ourselves  in  any  way — to  be  able  to  give  that  which 
will  be  valued  by  a  friend,  or  may  relieve  the  poor, 
does  teach  us  in  some  small  degree, — but  oh,  how  great 
the  gulf  between! — what  must  be  the  depth  of  the 


210  HOPES  FULFILLED. 

blessedness  which  God  feels  in  giving  to  all  men  liber- 
ally and  upbraiding  not." 

Perhaps  few  people  have  a  better  right  to  make  a 
little  dissertation  on  the  happiness  of  giving,  than  Ar- 
thur Vandeleur  had.  He  was  always  on  the  alert  for 
an  excuse  for  making  little  gifts  to  his  friends ;  gifts 
which  seemed  to  be  chosen  with  a  sort  of  intuition  as 
to  that  which  would  afford  most  pleasure.  Birthdays, 
Christmas-day,  New-Year's-day,  Midsummer-day,  days 
of  parting,  and  days  of  meeting  ;  all  alike  were  pressed 
into  this  service  !  And  to  the  needy  and  destitute,  his 
charity  was  only  bounded  by  his  righteous  dread  of 
debt,  and  desire  neither  to  spend  nor  to  give  a  single 
farthing  which  did  not  positively  belong  to  him ;  in 
order  that,  like  Longfellow's  '  Blacksmith/  he  might 

"Look  the  whole  world  in  the  face—. 
For  he  owes  not  any  man." 


CHAPTER  XIIL 

gforriefr  fife. 

*  So  have  I  sometimes  seen  a  Christian  bear 
A  brightness,  not  of  earth,  but  from  above, 
Lighting  his  countenance  with  rays  of  love, 
As  he  descended  from  the  mount  of  prayer : 
Benevolence,  affection,  holy  peace, 
Serene  and  humble  trust — a  soul  at  rest, 
A  faith  establish 'd,  and  a  peaceful  breast ; 
A  confidence,  a  joy,  which  cannot  cease  : 
These,  these  have  shed  a  glory  pure  and  bright 
Aa  that  which  clad  the  prophet's  face  with  light !' 


ON  the  3rd  of  January,  1856,  Arthur  Vandeleur  was 
married  at  the  parish  church  of  Lee,  to  Mary,  eld- 
est daughter  of  James  Molony,  Esq.  of  Kiltanon. 

In  addition  to  the  large  family  circle  who  were 
present  at  this  marriage,  Mr  Molony's  hospitality 
assembled  many  friends  of  both  his  daughter  and 
his  son-in-law,  who  came  with  more  than  common 
gladness  in  their  hearts,  to  see  so  steadfast  an  affec- 
tion rewarded  at  last. 

It  was  this  which  gave  a  distinctive  character  to  the 
day ;  casting  the  glow  of  romance  over  the  common- 
place incidents  and  details  of  a  wedding-party. 

Few  who  were  present  could  forget  the  fatherly  and 
almost  solemn  tenderness  of  General  Anderson's  words, 
that  day  ;  nor  the  half-triumphant  note  in  his  voice,  as 
he  spoke  with  thankful  confidence  and  delight,  of  the 
character  of  his  young  friend,  as  he  had  watched  its 
gradual  development,  from  the  first  day  of  their  ac- 
quaintance up  to  that  hour. 

In  referring  to  that  happy  morning,  General  Anderson 
now  writes : — "  Little  did  I  imagine,  when  we  met  at 


214  MAERIED  LIFE. 

the  marriage  of  my  beloved  friend,  that  his  earthly 
career  was  to  be  of  so  short  a  duration  ;  radiant  as  he 
then  was  with  health  and  strength,  and  sanctified  joy. 

"  Vandeleur  was  a  rich  trophy  of  the  grace  of  God. 
He  was  a  most  beautiful  exemplification  of  living 
Christianity,  in  a  true  soldier,  and  a  man  of  a  natur- 
ally generous  and  lovely  disposition." 

In  addition  to  these  strong  foundations  for  happiness 
in  married  life,  there  was  in  the  character  of  Arthur 
Vandeleur,  that  crown  of  a  high-toned  morality — in 
itself  one  of  the  marks  of  a  noble  manhood — a  rever- 
ence for  woman.  "  To  give  honour  unto  the  weaker," 
as  well  as  to  give  succour  and  support,  was  a  law  of  his 
strong  nature.  Combined  with  a  firmness  of  resolve  in 
all  matters  of  conscience  and  duty,  which  nothing  could 
shake,  was  a  genial,  natural  chivalry  of  character — 
ever  called  into  play  by  the  thousand  little  opportuni- 
ties, in  daily  life,  for  considerate  and  self-sacrificing 
tenderness,  to  a  degree  which  became  so  completely  a 
part  of  his  very  existence,  that  it  extended  throughout 
his  dying  illness. 

The  following  letter  was  received  from  him,  about  a 
week  after  his  marriage  : — 

"HOTEL  MEXJRICE,  PARIS,  January  8th,  1856. 
"  Our  first  day  here  was  a  Sabbath,  and  a  very  blessed 
one  we  both  felt  it  to  be.     We  went  to  the  English 
Chapel,  Rue  d'Aguesseau,  and  were  delighted  to  find  it 


MAKH1ED  LIFE.  215 

was  Sacrament  Sunday.  We  knelt  together  at  the 
table  of  the  Lord,  our  hearts  filled  with  gratitude,  and 
onr  mouths  with  praise,  for  the  great  things  our  cove- 
nant God  had  done  for  us.  It  was  unspeakably  pre- 
cious thus  to  be  able  to  shew  our  Lord  and  Master, 
that  in  the  midst  of  our  joy  and  happiness,  we  remem- 
bered Him  and  His  wondrous  love  to  us,  and  were  de- 
termined to  devote  our  married  life  to  His  glorious 
service.  And  He  did  meet  with  us,  and  cause  us  to 
feel  with  joy  that  the  '  light  of  the  King's  counte- 
nance '  was  lifted  up  upon  us." 

Our  intercourse,  during  the  following  year,  was  so 
frequent,  that  light  were  the  labours  of  correspondence 
on  either  side. 

It  was  delightful  to  see  him  in  his  own  home,  and 
in  his  sphere  of  duty.  To  the  song  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving  wherewith  he  made  melody  in  his  heart 
to  the  Lord,  his  life  gave  back  its  faithful  echoes. 

The  service  of  his  heavenly  King  seemed  a  refresh- 
ment to  him,  after  his  regular  duties  in  the  Arsenal 
had  been  thoroughly  performed ;  and  even  his  exceed- 
ing happiness  in  his  home,  wrought  no  diminution  of 
his  spiritual  energies.  "  The  time  is  short ; " — "  Work 
while  it  is  day  : "  were  words  continually  on  his  lips. 

Not  only  were  soldiers  cared  for,  but  the  souls 
of  the  thousands  working  in  the  Arsenal,  were  also 
borne  upon  his  heart.  Books,  tracts,  and  cards  of 


216  MAKEIED  LIFE. 

prayer,  were  distributed  amongst  them  ;  a  library  was 
formed  ;  and,  not  satisfied  with  using  only  these  means 
of  good,  Major  Vandeleur*  and  his  friend,  Captain  Orr, 
organised  two  associations  amongst  these  men,  one  for 
those  who  worked  in  the  Gun-factories,  the  other  for 
those  who  were  employed  in  the  Laboratory,  for  the 
purpose  of  inducing  them  each  to  purchase,  at  a  some- 
what reduced  cost,  a  copy  of  M'Phun's  Family  Bible, 
price  thirty  shillings.  One  shilling  a-week  was  the 
average  sum  subscribed. 

On  the  evenings  when  the  subscriptions  were  paid, 
Arthur  and  his  friend  conducted  Bible-readings  with 
the  men,  commencing  and  concluding  with  prayer.  I 
have  seen  them  riveted  by  his  words,  and  still  more 
by  the  holy  joy  which  lighted  up  his  countenance,  as 
he  spoke  to  them  of  the  blessed  privilege  of  the  daily 
study  of  the  Word  of  God ;  and  pointed  out  some  of 
its  glorious  riches  and  beauty. 

"  ROYAL  ARSENAL,  February  29tk,  1856. 
"We  did  so  enjoy  seeing  you  in  our  little  home: 
next  time  you  come,  you  must  pay  a  much  longer 
visit.  You  will  rejoice  to  hear  that  even  your  short 
sojourn  in  the  Arsenal  will,  through  the  blessing  of 
God,  be  productive  of  good  to  those  in  it; — to  say 
nothing  of  the  words  of  comfort  and  advice  you  spoke 

*  Arthur  Vandeleur  was  promoted  to  the  Brevet-rank  of  Major 
for  his  services  in  the  Crimea, 


MARRIED  LIFE.  217 

to  the  poor  fellows  in  Dial  Square  ; — for  I  have  been 
thinking  very  seriously  over  your  question,  '  Is  nothing 
to  be  done,  to  rescue  the  ten  thousand  poor  fellows  at 
work  here,  from  the  hands  of  Satan  ?'  and  I  think  that 
one  plan  which  we  talked  over  can  be  carried  out.  I 
mean  that  relative  to  the  lending  library.  I  am  certain 
that  it  would  be  highly  valued  by  the  workmen,  and 
might  effect  much  good.  I  am  going  to  ask  Colonel 
Wilinot  to  take  the  matter  in  hand ;  and  if  I  suc- 
ceed in  this,  you  may  consider  it  as  settled,  for  he 
is  always  successful !  God  grant  it  may  be  so  in  this 
instance ! " 

"  ROYAL  ARTILLERY  BARRACKS,  WOOLWICH. 
*'  I  feel  happy  when  I  know  that  you  speak  to  our 
covenant  Grod  about  me,  whether  in  prayer  or  praise, 
and  entreat  you  to  continue  to  do  this,  for  it  does  me 
a  world  of  good,  more  than  I  shall  ever  know  in  this 
life.  I  often  remember  you  and  your  work  for  Jesus, 
when  on  my  knees  before  the  ever-open  throne  of 
grace.  There  is  a  pleasure  in  prayer,  intercessory  pray- 
er, which  becomes  deeper  and  truer  as  it  is  indulged 
in  the  of tener.  Oh,  to  know  more  of  such  pleasure  ! " 

The  date  of  the  following  letter  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. In  its  closing  paragraphs,  we  trace  an  indica- 
tion of  his  earnest  love  and  reverence  for  the  Sabbath. 
Few  persons  could  more  closely  follow  the  injunctions 


218  MARRIED  LIFE. 

with  respect  to  it,  given  in  Isaiah  Iviii.  13 ;  or  more 
freely  enjoy  the  privilege  annexed  to  such  obedience,—- 
"Then  shalt  thou  delight  thyself  in  the  Lord  : " — 

"My  soul  owes  you  much,  very  much,  and  as  it 
cannot  repay  you,  goes  to  the  living  Fountain  to  ask  to 
have  you  rewarded  out  of  the  fulness  of  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord.  Faithful  is  He  that  promiseth,  who  also 
will  do  it. 

"  Were  you  not  delighted  to  see  the  Times  yester- 
day? How  every  Christian's  heart  must  bound  with 
joy,  gratitude,  and  thankfulness,  at  the  information  it 
contained  relative  to  the  Sabbath  question.  What  a 
triumphant  majority,  376  to  48  ! 

"  The  Lord  Jehovah  has  wrought,  and  they  have  not 
been  able  to  make  void  His  law.  Blessed  be  His  holy 
Name  for  evermore !" 

"  ROYAL  ARSENAL,  September  3rd,  1857. 
"  One  line  to  tell  you  the  happy  tidings  of  my  pre- 
cious wife's  safety,  and  that  she  has  a  sweet  little 
daughter.  Oh,  how  shall  I  express  half  the  gratitude 
and  thankfulness  that  fill  my  heart  towards  Him  who 
is  indeed  the  Giver  of  all  good  gifts !  The  Lord  my 
God  be  praised  !  I  well  know  how  deeply  you  and  all 
your  dear  family  will  sympathise  in  our  joy.  An 
eternity  will  not  be  sufficient  to  shew  forth  His  praise 
for  all  His  tender  mercy  towards  us." 


MARRIED  LIFE.  219 

" ROYAL  ARSENAL,  October  \Wi,  1857. 

"  We  propose  to  have  our  darling  little  child  made  a 
member  of  the  visible  Church  of  Christ  on  earth,  on 
Wednesday  next,  during  the  morning  service  at  Lee 
Church.  Will  you  and  your  niece  come  over  and  be 
present  on  this  solemn  yet  joyful  occasion.  It  will  de- 
light our  hearts  if  you  will.  I  know  how  earnestly  you 
will  both  pray  that  the  Holy  Spirit  would  make  her 
His  own  little  '  living  temple.' 

"  Again  we  unite  in  fond  love  and  thanks  to  you,  for 
consenting  to  be  our  darling's  godmother.  Her  name 
is  to  be  Lucy,  which  alone  would  give  her  a  claim  on 
your  heart.  ....  It  is  the  name  of  her  mother's  be- 
loved mother,  who  is  now  in  heaven,  with  her  Saviour. 
....  Come  as  early  as  you  can,  and  stay  as  late  as 
you  can.  Mary  and  I  have  set  our  hearts  on  having 
a  long  day's  enjoyment  of  you  both ;  and  you  will 
love  our  lovely  little  child." 

During  these  three  years  at  Woolwich,  Major  Van- 
deleur  devoted  the  larger  number  of  the  evenings  in 
each  week  to  conducting  Bible-classes  amongst  the 
soldiers  and  the  workmen  in  the  Arsenal,  and  to 
taking  part  in  various  prayer-meetings.  The  hospital 
in  the  Arsenal  was  a  great  object  of  interest  to  him ; 
and  many  of  the  sufferers  derived  comfort  and  bless- 
ing through  his  prayers  and  counsel,  and  reading  of  the 
Word  of  God. 


220  MAEEIED  LIFE. 

One  afternoon  he  heard  that  a  man  in  the  Arsenal 
had  met  with  a  serious  accident ;  and  as  soon  as  his 
work  there  was  over,  he  hastened  to  the  hospital,  to 
see  what  could  be  done  for  the  comfort  of  the  poor 
fellow.  The  doctors  had  just  decided  upon  immediate 
amputation  of  his  foot.  The  man  was  lamenting,  not 
his  own  suffering,  but  the  prospect  of  starvation  before 
his  poor  wife  and  little  children,  if  he  were  to  leave  the 
hospital  a  cripple  for  life.  Arthur  earnestly  requested 
the  doctors  to  postpone  the  amputation  until  the  next 
day.  They  did  not  consider  that  the  delay  would 
involve  any  serious  consequences,  and  therefore  con- 
sented to  it. 

Arthur  went  home,  to  plead  earnestly  with  his  God 
on  behalf  of  this  poor  man,  whose  distress  had  so  moved 
his  heart.  That  prayer  of  faith  met  with  an  immediate 
answer.  The  next  morning,  the  doctors  pronounced  the 
foot  to  be  so  much  better,  that  there  was  every  reason 
to  hope  that  it  might  be  saved ;  and  in  a  short  time, 
the  man  entirely  recovered. 

But  a  better  blessing  still  was  given,  in  answer  to 
that  prayer  of  faith. 

"The  Major  spoke  kindly,"  said  he,  "and  prayed 
with  me,  and  told  me  about  the  Saviour  who  had 
bought  me  with  His  own  blood.  And  then  I  began  to 
see  that  I,  who  thought  I  had  not  a  friend  anywhere, 
had  found  two  friends,  an  earthly  and  a  Heavenly  Friend. 
After  that,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  live  a  new  life,  by 


MAEKTED  LIFE.  221 

the  help  of  God.  There  was  room  for  a  change,  for  I 
had  never  been  to  a  school,  nor  to  a  place  of  worship 
from  the  time  I  was  ten  years  of  age.  I  never  had  a 
mother's  prayers ;  and  if  any  one  spoke  to  me  about 
religion,  all  I  did  was  to  laugh  at  them.  As  soon 
as  I  came  out  of  hospital,  I  went  to  church,  and  felt 
very  odd  at  first,  my  clothes  being  so  shabby.  But  by 
the  help  of  God,  I  got  over  that,  and  learned  to  love 
it.  For  the  last  two  years  I  have  been  a  teacher  in  a 
Sunday-school,  and  it  is  a  blessed  work." 

From  the  time  of  his  leaving  the  hospital,  this  man 
has  been  steadfastly  walking  with  God;  and  he  has 
been  prospered  in  every  way.  His  grateful  love  for 
Major  Vandeleur  never  lessened ;  he  rejoiced  in  his 
presence,  mourned  when  military  duty  called  him 
away ;  and  few,  amongst  the  many  true  mourners, 
sorrowed  more  sincerely  over  his  open  grave. 

In  the  autumn  of  1857,  and  the  winter  of  1857-58, 
Major  Vandeleur  took  an  active  part  in  the  efforts 
made  to  alleviate  the  distress  of  the  families  of  those 
soldiers  who  had  been  sent  off  suddenly  to  India,  when 
the  great  cry  for  help  had  reached  these  shores,  amidst 
the  uproar  of  the  Indian  mutiny.  But  no  new  call  for 
exertion  ever  caused  him  to  relinquish  any  labour  of 
love  which  he  had  previously  undertaken.  Besides  his 
week-day  work  for  his  Divine  Master,  he  threw  himself 
with  all  his  heart  into  the  superintendence  and  instruc- 
tion of  the  Sunday-schools  at  Plumstead ;  and  sowed 


222  MARRIED  LIFE. 

seed  of  life  there,  which  has  since  sprung  up  and  borne 
much  fruit. 

The  following  letter  shews  in  what  manner  he  began 
a  new  year  of  his  life  : — 

"  ROYAL  ARSENAL,  January  2\st,  1858. 

"  I  must  not  let  the  whole  day  pass  without  telling 
you  how  your  kind  little  note  has  warmed,  and  com- 
forted, and  strengthened  my  heart.  It  is  an  unspeakable 
blessing  to  be  remembered  by  those  one  most  loves 
when  passing  the  milestones  of  our  pilgrimage  towards 
the  Celestial  City. 

"May  God  bless  you  for  your  constant  kindness 
towards  one  so  little  worthy  of  being  loved  by  any  one 
in  the  world ! 

"  You  know  that  I  do  desire  to  be  thankful, — and  to 
shew  that  gratitude  not  only  in  words,  but  in  deeds, — 
to  Him  who  has  done  and  continues  to  do  such  wonders 
for  me  and  mine.  I  know  how  little  I  have  served 
Him,  and  I  do  desire  during  this  new  year  of  my  life 
to  cleave  closer  to  Jesus,  to  sit  more  constantly  at  the 
foot  of  the  Cross,  and  to  dwell  under  the  outpouring 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and,  above  all  things,  to  have  a 
larger  and  more  unselfish  heart  of  love  to  all  the  world, 
for  Christ's  sake.  Pray  for  me,  and  ask  all  that  your 
letter  contains — mercy,  peace,  and  love ;  this  is  what 
I  have  asked,  and  do,  and  will  ask  for  you.  May  you 


MAREIED  LIFE.  223 

be  filled  with  all  the  fulness  of  Christ,  both  now  and 
evermore ! " 

«iil;a>:ij   '::.:  .-.' 

In  allusion  to  the  years  following  his  marriage,  she 
who  could  best  testify  to  his  daily  life,  thus  writes  : — 
"  In  his  own  home,  he  never  for  one  moment  laid  aside 
his  religion.  Indeed,  only  those  who  saw  him  there, 
could  tell  how  heavenly  was  his  spirit.  It  often  struck 
me  with  a  kind  of  awe,  how  intense  was  his  longing 
after  a  state  of  perfect  holiness ;  and  how  his  spirit 
used  to  pant  for  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  Saviour's 
presence." 

From  the  same  sacred  memories,  we  have  this  touch- 
ing insight  given  us  into  his  inner  life  :— "  If  anything 
had  ruffled  or  annoyed  him,  he  would  take  his  Bible 
and  shut  himself  up  with  it  in  his  own  room  for  a  few 
minutes ;  and  then  would  come  forth  from  that  lonely 
communing  with  his  God  and  Saviour,  with  a  counte- 
nance beaming  with  peace  and  love." 

In  the  month  of  April,  1858,  he  resigned  his  appoint- 
ment of  Captain-Instructor  in  the  Arsenal,  considering 
it  to  be  his  duty,  for  professional  reasons,  to  do  so. 
Consequent  upon  this  resignation,  he  was  posted  to  a 
company  at  Gibraltar ;  for  which  station  he  sailed  from 
England  on  the  17th  of  July,  to  the  deep  regret  of  his 
many  warmly-attached  friends.  But  the  emphasis  of 
the  sorrow  lay  with  his  wife  and  himself ;  as  her  state 


224  MARRIED  LIFE. 

of  health  rendered  it  impossible  for  her  to  accompany 
him,  in  the  height  of  summer. 

The  following  letters  were  written  in  the  months 
intervening  between  his  leaving  Woolwich  and  sailing 
for  Gibraltar : — 

TO  GENERAL  ANDERSON,  R.A. 

"  LEE,  April  28th,  1858. 

"MY  DEAREST  COLONEL, — I  cannot  tell  you  how 
much  your  very  kind  note  of  sympathy  and  love  com- 
forted and  refreshed  our  hearts.  It  found  us  busy 
packing  up  ;  so  I  determined  to  finish  that  work  before 
answering  it,  that  I  might  be  able  to  write  at  some 
length 

"  To  look  beyond  second  causes,  I  cannot  but  think 
it  probable  that  my  heavenly  Father  saw  that  my  heart 
and  thoughts  were  becoming  of  late  too  much  engross- 
ed with  professional  matters,  and  too  little  devoted  to 
Himself.  Great,  eternal  realities  may  not  have  been 
sufficiently  present  to  my  mind.  It  seems  as  if,  while 
working  for  Him  at  the  Sunday-school  and  at  meet- 
ings of  all  kinds,  I  had  not  had  sufficient  time  for 
meditation  and  prayer.  '  He  made  me  keeper  of  the 
vineyards,  but  mine  own  vineyard  have  I  not  kept.' 
May  this  be  altered  now  !  We  shall,  in  truth,  be  very 
glad  of  a  little  quiet,  especially  for  my  precious  wife's 
sake  ;  for  she  really  was  overworking  herself  every  day, 
and  I  could  not  prevent  her. 


MARRIED  LIFE.  225 

"  Every  one  at  Woolwich  is  rejoiced  to  have  Colonel 
and  Mrs  Travers  back  again :  they  are  such  a  happy, 
useful,  delightful  pair.  I  was  so  thankful  to  be  able  to 
transfer  into  such  able  hands  the  Plumstead  Sunday- 
school 

"The  Tuesday  evening  readings,  which  we  all  so 
much  enjoyed  at  your  most  hospitable  house,  are  now 
held  at  our  friend  Mr  Acworth's.  They  are  still  well 
attended,  and  are  most  harmonious  and  profitable. 

"  With  our  united  affectionate  love  to  Mrs  Anderson 
and  yourself,  and  all  your  family  circle,  believe  me 
most  affectionately  and  gratefully  yours, 

"ARTHUR  VANDELEUB." 

"  KILTANON,  June  1858. 

"  Thank  you  for  a  letter  which  has  warmed  my  heart 
and  refreshed  my  soul  Thank  you,  too,  for  the  simple 
and  beautiful  '  revival '  hymn.  I  doubt  not  that  such 
hymns  as  that,  have  been  powerful  instruments  in  for- 
warding the  glorious  revival  in  America.  God  grant 
it  may  increase  day  by  day !  and  oh  that  the  heavenly 
flame  may  light  up  the  darkness  of  this  land,  still  so 
firmly  held  in  the  deadly  grasp  of  Rome !  However,  I 
rejoice  to  say  that  the  good  seed  is  being  steadily  and 
constantly  sown  in  the  minds  of  the  people  ;  and  our 
one  great  effort  is  to  get  them  to  read  the  Word  of  the 
living  God.  My  Scripture-reader  at  Ralahine  tells  me 

that  they  converse  freely  with  him,  listen  to  all  he  says, 

P 
I 


226  MARRIED  LIFE. 

are  quite  unable  to  answer  his  arguments,  but  still 
retain  their  former  opinions !  This  makes  it  very  up- 
hill work  ;  but  it  is  still  our  duty  to  labour  on,  and 
believe  the  promise  that  His  own  Word  will  not  return 
unto  Him  void.  And  oh  for  such  a  gift  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  on  all  who  by  name  are  Protestants — such  a 
fresh  baptism  of  that  Spirit  upon  us  who  do  believe 
and  trust  alone  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  our  lights  may 
be  burning,  and  the  brightness  may  spread,  and  num- 
bers around  be  brought  from  darkness  to  light,  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God !  .  .  .  . 

"  This  is  one  of  the  most  lovely  spots  in  Ireland ; 
and  its  magnificent  trees  are  now  in  all  their  beauty. 
I  am  regaining  health  and  strength,  thank  God,  every 
day,  in  this  most  enjoyable  place  ;  but  still  I  should 
not  wish  to  spend  much  time  here.  I  miss  the  calls 
for  active  usefulness  which  were  on  every  side  at  Wool- 
wich. A  life  of  ease  and  comparative  idleness,  and  of 
country  pleasures,  would  stunt  my  spiritual  growth. 

"  My  darling  Mary  is  the  better  for  her  native  air. 
The  time  of  our  parting  is  drawing  near,  very  near, 
now.  Monday,  the  21st,  is  the  day  at  present  fixed 
for  it ;  and  a  bitter  trial  it  must  be  to  us  both.  But, 
if  it  lead  us  to  seek  a  closer  union  with  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  if  it  bring  us  into  a  fuller  enjoyment  of  His 
blessed  presence,  and  increased  earnestness  and  use- 
fulness in  His  service — which  we  pray  and  trust  that 
it  may — then  surely  we  ought  to  say,  <  It  is  well.'  " 


MAEEIED  LIFE.  227 

A  brother-officer  of  Major  Vandeleur's,  who  was  one 
of  his  most  intimate  friends,  from  the  time  of  his  join- 
ing the  Royal  Artillery,  in  looking  back  over  the  years 
of  their  acquaintance,  thus  wrote  : — 

"  It  was  the  uniform  calm  tenor  of  his  whole  life, 
his  steadfast  holy  walk  unchecked  by  inconsistency, 
that  was  to  me  the  distinction  of  his  character ;  not 
anything  calling  for  special  notice,  or  challenging  ob- 
servation. 

"He  was  generous,  chivalrous,  and  full  of  sympa- 
thy; tender  and  sensitive  in  his  affections,  more  so 
almost  than  women ;  and,  consequently,  was  susceptible 
of  feeling  keenly  any  unkindness  from  one  he  loved. 

"In  his  opinions  he  was  sometimes  obstinate,  and 
his  temper  was  quick  and  hot  But  if  cause  of  dif- 
ference arose,  the  slightest  yielding  or  admission  of 
wrong  on  your  part  was  enough  to  disarm  him  instantly, 
and  to  subdue  him  into  the  gentleness  of  a  child.  He 
was  most  forgiving. 

"  His  disposition  was  a  cheerful  one,  and  the  purity 
and  simplicity  of  his  mind  enabled  him,  I  think,  to 
taste  pleasure  with  a  freshness  that  perhaps  natures  less 
chaste  seldom  know.  There  was  a  frankness  and 
sincerity  about  him,  combined  with  a  courtesy  truly 
winning  and  attractive. 

"  But  above  these  qualities,  for  which  he  might  well 


228  MAKEIED  LIFE. 

be  loved,  there  dwelt  within  him  a  spirit  of  deep  and 
ardent  love  to  God,  and  attachment  to  His  service. 
He  devoted  himself,  and  all  that  was  his,  I  believe,  to 
his  Lord  and  Master  with  fervent,  supreme  affection. 
All  he  said  and  did  with  reference  to  things  sacred,  was 
marked  by  a  reverence  and  awe  so  rare  as  to  be  most 
impressive.  This  was  such  a  deep  and  settled  condi- 
tion of  his  inner  life,  visible  in  every  tone  and  gesture, 
as  to  be  the  most  striking  feature  of  his  character. 

"To  him  prayer  and  the  study  of  God's  Word  were, 
I  believe,  the  atmosphere  of  his  spiritual  life,  and  its 
necessary  food." 


We  saw  him  as  he  passed  through  London  on  his 
way  to  Gibraltar.  A  shadow  had  fallen  upon  that 
bright  brow,  and  the  joyous  smile  and  manner  were 
chastened.  Something  like  a  presentiment  came  over 
our  hearts  that  he  was  going  through  his  last  and  ripen- 
ing trial 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


*•  What  is  it,  Lord  ?     Dost  Thou  intend 
That  patience  should  take  root  in  me  ? 
Is  it  Thy  will  my  will  to  bend, 
That  I  more  like  a  child  may  be  ? 

**  Is  it  to  raise  my  heart  above 
AH  earthly  joy  and  earthly  pleasure, 
And  loose  my  hands  from  earthly  love, 
To  fill  them  full  of  heavenly  treasure  ? 

"  To  hinder  this  poor  mortal  clinging, 
And  set  my  heart  from  earth-bonds  free  ? 
0  God,  my  spirit  art  Thou  bringing 
Nearer  to  leaving  all  for  Thee  ? 

"  Whatever  be  Thy  gracious  thought, 
Let  me  not  lose  its  sweet  design  ; 
Since  Jesus  hath  the  blessing  bought, 
Oh,  for  His  sake,  may  it  be  mine  1  " 


MAJOR  VANDELEUE  arrived  in  Gibraltar,  at  an  un- 
healthy season  of  the  year.  His  letters  from  that 
station  were  written  in  a  tone  of  depression  unusual 
for  him,  which  wr.s  sufficiently  to  be  accounted  for  by 
the  separation  it  involved  from  those  he  loved  best  on 
earth. 

Yet  beyond  this,  like  a  distant  knell,  there  fell  upon 
our  hearts  a  dull  sense  of  undefined  dread,  as  again 
and  again,  in  his  letters,  we  traced  that  the  subject  of 
death  was  frequently  recurring  to  his  mind.  The 
following  extract  is  but  one  amongst  many  of  this 
nature : — 

"GIBRALTAR,  November  llth,  1858. 

"  Thank  you  again  and  again  for  your  letter,  so  full 
of  the  truest  sympathy  and  comfort.  How  I  wish  you 
could  see  my  beautiful  book-stand,  filled  with  all  my 
favourite  books  !  I  have  just  added  to  them  '  The  Story 
of  Thomas  Ward/  which  has  returned  to  me  from  a  round 
of  visits.  The  evening  it  arrived,  I  read  it  aloud  to  a  dear 
young  friend  and  fellow-disciple  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  How 


232          THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH. 

striking  is  the  description  of  the  awful  struggle  which 
Satan  makes  to  secure  his  prey,  when  he  feels  it  elud- 
ing his  grasp  !  This  is  a  subject  which  has  occupied 
niy  thoughts  much  of  late.  David  could  say  in  antici- 
pation, '  Though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  Thou  art 
with  me;'  but  when  we  are  actually  entering  the 
dark  valley,  and  we  feel  life  ebbing  fast,  then  must 
it  be  much  more  difficult  to  say,  'I  fear  no  evil.' 
But,  as  God  taught  you  to  shew  poor  Ward,  and  as 
Ryle  points  out  in  that  powerful  tract,  '  Never  Perish,' 
then,  as  at  all  times,  what  we  must  do  is  to  take  our 
great  God  and  Saviour  simply  at  His  word — '  No  man 
is  able  to  pluck  them  out  of  my  Father's  hand ; ' 
'  Neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.'  Oh 
for  grace  and  strength  to  rest  upon  these  precious, 
blessed  truths  when  the  solemn  hour  of  death  shall 
come !  .  .  .  .  You  will  rejoice  to  know  that  God  has 
enabled  me  to  do  a  little  work  for  Him  since  I  have 
been  out  here.  Indeed,  I  now  see  many  good  reasons 
why  He  has  sent  me  out,  and  I  know  that  they  are 
all  full  of  mercy.  Thank  you  dearly  for  writing  to 
my  darling  wife.  As  far  as  I  can  see  my  way  at 
present,  it  is  best  that  she  should  not  come  out  to  me, 
as  I  hope  to  return  by  the  end  of  February.  But  it 
is  a  sore  trial,  especially  in  such  a  place  as  this,  the 
monotony  of  which  is  almost  overwhelming.  I  work 
almost  daily  at  my  photography,  and  have  lately  been 


THE  SHADOW  OP  DEATH.          233 

very  successful.     It  is  a  good  thing  to  have  such  a 
source  of  recreation 

"There  is  a  great  spirit  of  religious  inquiry  alive 
amongst  our  officers  ;  and  I  have  had  some  interesting 
and  hopeful  conversation  with  several  of  them ;  but 
the  great  difficulty  with  some  is  to  take  the  next  step — 
the  all-important  one  of  deciding  for  God.  Some  of 
us  meet  every  Tuesday  evening,  for  reading  the  Scrip- 
ture and  prayer,  and  I  hope  not  without  spiritual  im- 
provement. 

"  Dearest  Mr  Chalmers  wrote  to  me  so  affectionately 
some  time  since ;  and  your  beloved  sister  added  some 
of  her  kind,  sweet  words,  which  I  greatly  prized.  Mr 
Chalmers'  letter  was  a  real  blessing  to  me.  I  have 
been  hoping  to  hear  again  from  one  of  the  beloved 
family. 

"  With  earnest  blessings,  and  affectionate  love,  your 
ever  grateful  and  loving 

"  ABTHUE  VANDELEUB." 

EXTBACTS  FEOM  LETTEES  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

"  SOUTHAMPTON,  July  nth,  1858. 

"  My  heart  is  growing  deeply  sad  at  the  prospect  of 
going  so  very  far  away  from  you,  my  most  beloved 
one,  and  from  my  sweet  little  child.  My  work  being 
all  over  now,  I  have  more  time  to  think,  and  more 
time  to  pray  for  you  and  her.  Indeed,  though  sad,  I 


234         THE  SHADOW  OP  DEATH. 

am  far  from  being  without  much  to  comfort  me.  I 
cannot  tell  you  how  the  excessive  kindness  of  all  our 
friends  has  overwhelmed  me.  What  a  blessed,  holy 
thing  is  Christian  love  and  friendship  !  Oh  for  a 
grateful  heart  to  Him  who  has  bestowed  such  wondrous 
and  constant  proofs  of  His  love  upon  me,  the  most 
unworthy  of  His  servants  ! " 

"  October  \Ztk. 

"  Blessed  be  God  for  continued  good  tidings  of  you, 
and  of  the  darling  babe,  and  our  sweet  little  Lucy. 
....  You  will,  I  know,  rejoice  with  me  that  another 
officer  has  joined  our  little  Tuesday  readings.  We  have 
had  four  meetings,  and  as  none  of  us  are  very  learned, 
we  bring  all  kinds  of  books  and  commentaries  to  bear 
on  our  subject.  We  have  just  finished  the  seven  churches 
in  Revelations.  I  think  we  all  enjoy  them,  and  I  am 
sure  they  are  profitable  to  our  souls.  I  think  I  am 
gradually  finding  out  why  God  has  sent  me  here.  I 
trust  He  is  making  me  of  some  use  amongst  the  young 
officers.  Pray  earnestly  for  me,  that  I  may  be  enabled 
to  lead  some  of  them  steadily  to  Jesus,  and  pray  that 
my  example  may  be  of  as  much  use  as  anything  I 
may  say  to  them.  Oh  for  a  consistent  and  holy  walk 
and  conversation ! " 

"  November  25th. 

"  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  I  have  at  length  roused 
my  coward  heart  to  visit  the  hospital,  and  speak  to 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          235 

the  poor  men  who  are  on  the  brink  of  eternity.  I 
think  some  of  them  were  pleased  with  my  visit. 
Yesterday  I  took  them  our  dearest  friend's  cards  of 
prayer,  and  read  aloud  in  one  of  the  rooms  her 
letter  to  the  navvies.  May  it  please  God  to  bless 
these  feeble  efforts  to  the  making  known  the  glori- 
ous gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  among  our  soldiers ! 
The  hospital-sergeant — Sergeant  Batson — is  a  truly 
good  man  ;  and  one  of  the  orderlies,  named  Cole,  is 
also  a  devoted  Christian.  Our  little  Tuesday  meetings 
have  gone  on  regularly.  I  think  they  are  a  blessing 
to  us  all  All  but  myself  are  young  Christians,  and 
it  is  delightful  to  see  the  earnestness  of  their  first 
love." 

"  Nearly  Midnight,  December  Z\st. 

"  The  remembrance  of  the  wonderful  goodness  of 
our  God  to  us  of  old  time  is  still  present  to  my  mind, 
and  it  makes  me  fully  trust  His  infinite  love.  Still, 
the  continuance  of  this  painful  separation,  and  the 
uncertainty  of  our  time  of  meeting  again,  out  of  which 
I  can  see  no  way,  is  a  great  trial. 

"  January  1st. 

"  It  has  now  struck  twelve,  and  I  have  just  risen 
from  my  knees,  after  earnestly  seeking  forgiveness  for 
all  my  sins  that  are  past,  from  Him  who  has  pro- 
mised that  He  will,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  blot  out  as 
a  cloud  our  transgressions,  and  as  a  thick  cloud  our 
sins.  I  have  asked  that,  during  the  year  now  opening, 


236          THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH. 

we  may  both  bo  strengthened  with  His  glorious  might 
in  our  souls,  and  enabled  to  serve  and  glorify  Him 
more  than  we  ever  yet  have  done. 

"  For  my  precious  wife  and  children  I  have  asked, 
from  the  bountiful  Giver  of  all  good,  multitudes  of 
the  richest  blessings.  It  went  straight  to  my  heart,  a 
little  while  ago,  to  read,  in  '  Nelson  on  Infidelity,'  the 
following  note  : — '  They  believe  that  the  Man  of  Cal- 
vary can  do  whatever  He  pleases,  and  that,  if  any  love 
Him,  He  frequently  does  please  that  they  shall  have 
almost  anything  for  which  they  ask.  None  but  His 
obedient  children,  however,  know  this  fact  by  experi- 
ence.' That  you  may  know  it  now  and  ever  experi- 
mentally, my  beloved  wife,  is  my  constant  and  earnest 
prayer." 

"January  21s<. 

"  My  birth-day.  I  believe  you  have  remembered 
it,  and  are  thinking  of  me.  For  thirty  long  years 
has  my  life  been  spared ;  and,  oh,  how  few  of  them 
have  been  heartily  spent  in  His  service  who  died  to 
redeem  me,  and  how  multiplied  have  been  my  trans- 
gressions against  all  His  love !  I  have  been  cast  down 
to-day  by  the  remembrance  of  my  guilt ;  but  my  hope 
is  truly  in  His  never-failing  mercy ;  and  He  has,  and 
does  comfort  me  with  all  the  precious  promises  in  the 
31st  and  32nd  Psalms.  May  our  blessed  Lord  and 
Master  so  strengthen  me  with  the  promised  aid  of 
His  Holy  Spirit  as  to  enable  me,  for  the  short  re- 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          237 

mainder  of  my  stay  here,  constantly,  and  with  self- 
denial,  to  serve  and  glorify  Him,  whose  service  is  joy 
and  peace,  and  whose  gift — not  wages — is  eternal  life 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ! 

"  Grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  multiplied  unto  thee, 
my  own  precious  wife,  now,  and  through  life ;  and 
through  life  to  our  sweet  little  children,  too. — Ever 
your  own  loving  husband." 

"February  llth. 

"  This  prolonged  separation,  my  own  darling  wife, 
is  indeed  a  severe  trial.  I  feel  it  has  been  ordered 
for  us,  to  prevent  our  thinking  too  much  of  each  other, 
and  to  cause  Him,  whom  we  should  love  infinitely 
more  than  any  earthly  being,  to  become  dearer  and 
more  precious  to  our  souls.  I  often  wonder  whether 
it  has  really  had  this  effect  upon  my  stubborn,  sel- 
fish, indolent  heart ;  but  I  do  not  know  that  I  can 
say  so.  I  long,  and  try  oftentimes,  to  realise  truly 
the  invisible  presence  of  my  Saviour  God ;  but  all 
seems  in  vain.  If  I  could  feel  Him  close  to  me  every 
hour  of  the  day,  how  different  would  my  life  be 
from  what  it  now  is !  but  I  almost  think  that  if  it 
were  so,  my  joy  and  peace  would  be  almost  more 
than  this  poor  body  could  endure.  In  His  own  good 
time,  this  corruptible  shall  put  on  incorruption,  and 
this  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality,  and  then  shall 
I  see  Him  as  He  is — all  beauty,  light,  holiness,  and 
love." 


238          THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH. 

"Febntary  18th. 

"  My  beloved  wife,  you  must  not  long  or  pray  too 
much  for  my  return  to  you.  Our  first,  most  con- 
stant, most  earnest  wishes  and  prayers,  must  be  for 
a  growing  likeness  to  Jesus,  a  more  intense  sense  of 
dutifulness,  and  more  true  Christian  humility.  All 
things  beside  must  be  far  below  these  in  our  hearts, 
if  we  would  walk  so  as  to  please  Him ;  and  not  re- 
quire the  check  of  His  correcting  hand It  is 

Sunday  morning  now.  May  it  be  a  holy,  blessed,  soul- 
refreshing  day  to  my  own  wife ;  and  may  the  infinite 
love  of  the  Triune  Jehovah  rest  upon  her  and  upon 
our  darlings,  for  all  eternity ! " 

"  March  3rd. 

"  My  heart  bounds  for  joy  as  I  read  the  sweet  over- 
flowings of  yours,  on  the  most  momentous  of  all  sub- 
jects. Indeed,  it  will  be  delightful  when  we  can 
again  kneel  together  before  the  Throne  of  Grace,  and 
pour  out  our  souls  in  praise  and  prayer. 

"  The  Mabeilys  have  been  kindness  itself  to  me, 
ever  since  they  arrived.  I  dine  with  them,  on  an 
average,  twice  a-week,  and  like  them  so  very  much. 
They  have  three  dear  little  children,  who  are  great 
churns  of  mine. 

"  I  am  now  safely  ensconced  in  my  new  house.  How 
glad  I  am  that  I  may  have  but  a  few  short  weeks  to 
spend  in  it !  Hope  tells  me  I  have  really  some  chance 
of  going  home  in  April,  and  this  is  March.  I  trust  I  am 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          239 

not  too  anxious  about  it ;  indeed  I  desire  to  be  patient, 
and  to  submit  to  the  infinitely  wise  arrangements  of 
Him  who  so  truly  loves  us  ;  but  the  longing  desire  to 
be  with  you  and  my  beloved  children,  is  almost  irre- 
pressible occasionally.  I  feel  our  lives  may  not  be 
long  spared ;  indeed  I  often  fancy  mine  is  held  by  a 
more  than  usually  precarious  tenure,  and  this  makes 
my  heart  yearn  the  more  for  the  enjoyment,  while  I 
may  be  spared,  of  the  society  of  those  who  are  so  un- 
speakably precious  to  me. 

"  Oh  for  grace  truthfully  to  say,  '  Nevertheless,  not 
what  I  will,  but  what  Thou  wilt !"' 

Notwithstanding  this  burden  on  his  spirits,  and  these 
deep  yearnings  to  spend  all  that  was  left  of  life  to  him, 
with  those  whom  he  so  fondly  loved ;  yet,  without  one 
exception,  all  who  associated  with  him  bear  testi- 
mony to  the  serene  cheerfulness  of  his  daily  companion- 
ship, and  to  his  earnest  delight  in  the  work  of  His 
heavenly  Master.  A  young  officer  who  was  speaking 
of  him  to  me  some  months  ago,  said  —  "Everybody 
on  •  the  Old  Rock  liked  Vandeleur,  and  regretted  him 
when  he  left  us.  He  was  '  blue  '  *  you  know ;  but  then 
he  was  such  a  bright  blue !  No  gay  man,  I  should 
think,  was  ever  half  so  truly  cheerful  and  charming  as 
a  companion." 

And  a  young  friend  of  my  own,  who   was   also 

*  A  slang  term  for  being  religioua 


240  THE  SEIADOW  OF  DEATH. 

quartered  with  him  at  Gibraltar,  *  bears  a  similar 
testimony,  with  still  more  earnest  personal  affection  : — 
"  Major  Vandeleur  was  always  consistent  and  cheerful ; 
and  was  wonderfully  liked  and  looked  up  to  by  all  who 
knew  him.  I  shall  ever  remember  his  joyous  smile 
when  he  read  to  me  some  text  which  had  reference  to 
our  subject  of  conversation,  or  which  he  particularly 
loved,  or  found  comfort  from,  in  the  trial  of  separation 
from  his  wife  and  children." 

Captain  Warden,  C.B.,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  who  com- 
mands the  harbour  at  Gibraltar,  thus  writes  of  Major 
Vandeleur  (by  whom  his  friendship  had  been  greatly 
valued) : — 

"  He  was  in  the  habit  of  attending  a  weekly  meeting 
at  Mr  Crozier's,  for  prayer  and  Scripture-reading ;  and 
he  was  accompanied  by  several  young  officers  of  the 
corps,  who  were  first  led  thither,  I  believe,  by  his  in- 
fluence and  by  his  example. 

"  He  was  one  of  the  few  men  to  be  met  with  in  the 
world,  in  whose  company  it  was  impossible  to  be,  with- 
out discovering  that  his  heart  and  life  were  devoted  to 
that  Master  and  Saviour,  of  whom  he  was  so  distin- 
guished a  servant. 

"  For  myself,  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  never  took  to  any 
one  more  readily,  or  with  more  hearty  admiration." 

With  Captain  Jackson,  R.A.,  Arthur  had  also  formed 
a  true  friendship. 

*  Lieutenant  Hamilton,  R.A. 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          241 

"  He  knew  when  be  was  here,"  writes  Captain  Jack- 
son, from  Gibraltar,  "  that  he  was  not  to  be  long  for 
this  world ;  and  he  used  to  talk  to  me  about  it 

"  Five  or  six  years  ago,  I  met  him  for  the  first  time 
in  a  railway  carriage  between  "Woolwich  and  Black- 
heath.  We  were  perfect  strangers,  but  in  the  course 
of  conversation  he  remarked,  'How  happy  it  was  to 
know  that  one  had  a  Saviour ! ' 

"  I  have  always  remembered  his  saying  that ;  it  led 

me  often  to  think  and  wonder  how  it  could  be 

And  now  I  have  reason,  indeed,  to  be  very  thankful  to 
him  for  the  many  happy  and  profitable  hours  which  I 
spent  in  his  company  here." 

A  faithful  servant  who  was  with  Arthur  at  Gibral- 
tar, remembers  hearing  one  of  the  hospital-sergeants 
remark,  that,  "  of  all  who  visited  the  sick  men,  Major 
Vandeleur  seemed  to  feel  the  most  hurt  at  their  suffer- 
ings." 

This  servant  also  recollects  that  he  was  in  the  habit 
of  speaking  earnestly  to  the  men  in  the  batteries,  both 
about  their  duty  as  soldiers  and  about  the  happiness 
offered  them,  through  believing  in  the  Saviour  of  the 
world. 

There  was  one  man  who  was  continually  getting 
into  disgrace,  from  drinking  and  other  snares.  The 
week  before  Major  Vandeleur  left  Gibraltar,  he  spoke 
words  of  kind  advice  and  sympathy  to  this  poor  man, 

Q 


242          THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH. 

who  was  then  undergoing  punishment.  From  that 
day  forth,  the  soldier  transgressed  no  more.  It  was 
his  last  disgrace.  He  said  to  Major  Vandeleur's  ser- 
vant, "  Those  kind  words  did  more  for  me  than  all  the 
punishments  in  the  world." 

From  the  same  person,  we  learn  that  Major  Vande- 
leur  seemed  never  to  be  weary  of  well-doing.  When 
his  failing  health  obliged  him  now  and  then  to  stop 
for  an  hour,  to  recruit  his  exhausted  strength,  he  would 
rise  up  afterwards  with  fresh  ardour  to  return  to  his 
blessed  work.  And  when  military  duty  called  him  up 
early,  or  kept  him  up  late,  he  never  allowed  himself  to 
shorten  the  time  which  he  had  set  apart  for  reading 
the  Bible  and  for  prayer. 

The  following  sketch  of  his  life  at  Gibraltar  ia 
written  by  Sergeant-Major  Garnham  : — 

"Major  Vandeleur  joined  the  brigade  of  Royal 
Artillery  at  Gibraltar  during  the  month  of  July,  1858. 
His  appearance,  though  delicate,  was  not  such  as  to 
cause  any  immediate  apprehension. 

"  The  weather  at  that  season  is  very  sultry,  and  the 
place  not  unfrequently  enveloped  by  Levanters,  a  heavy 
mist  caused  by  an  east  wind  from  the  Mediterranean, 
which  is  very  injurious  not  only  to  the  health  of  new- 
comers, but  even  of  '  Old  Rockers.'  It  is  known  by 
the  name  of  '  Kill- Johnny.'  In  fact,  almost  the 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          243 

whole  of  the  summer  season  is  unfavourable  to  persons 
in  delicate  health. 

"  Major  Vandeleur,  however,  at  once  assumed,  and 
performed  with  his  accustomed  cheerfulness,  those 
various  and  arduous  duties  which  devolve  upon  an 
artillery  officer  in  a  large  fortress.  Not  long  before 
this,  an  order  had  been  issued  from  the  Horse  Guards, 
directing  that  the  armaments  of  the  more  conspicuous 
batteries  should  be  replaced  by  guns  of  a  heavier 
calibre.  This  remodelling  was  afterwards  carried  out 
so  extensively,  that  scarcely  a  battery  remained  un- 
affected by  its  provision.  It  will  be  easily  understood 
that,  at  such  a  crisis,  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of 
the  artillery  officer  were  much  increased,  and  that  it 
required  the  greatest  vigilance  on  the  part  of  those 
under  whose  immediate  superintendence  this  re-orga- 
nization was  carried  out,  to  avoid  the  occurrence  of 
serious  accidents. 

"  Firm  in  maintaining  his  command,  gentle  in  its 
exercise,  laborious  in  his  regimental  duties,  affable  and 
courteous  to  all,  the  influence  of  his  graceful  kindli- 
ness was  widely  felt.  Kich  veins  of  anecdote,  interest- 
ing in  style  and  eminently  Christian  in  tone,  distin- 
guished his  address.  Many  of  the  men  to  whom, 
without  disdain  of  their  humbler  rank,  he  would  often 
address  himself,  remember  them  well,  and  the  beauti- 
ful manner  in  which  they  were  told. 

"  Chiefly  must  his  brother  officers  have   felt  the 


244  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH. 

holy  influence  that  breathed  around  him.  His  ex- 
ample told  most  powerfully.  Many  of  them  resolved 
to  '  go  with  him,'  convinced  '  that  he  would  do  them 
good.'  They  were  not  disappointed.  God  acknow- 
ledged his  intercessions,  and  blessed  his  efforts,  and 
they — his  sons  or  brothers  in  Christ  Jesus — -joined 
him  in  his  holy  enterprise  for  the  recovery  of  ruined 
souls. 

"  On  Sunday  mornings,  in  the  regimental  school,  and 
from  day  to  day  throughout  the  week,  in  one  place  or 
another,  they  were  to  be  seen  meeting  him,  to  receive 
his  counsel  as  to  their  work,  and  his  loving  encourage- 
ment concerning  it.  Several  ladies,  too,  joined  him  in 
earnest  efforts  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  children  of 
the  Sunday-school.  They  were  of  all  religious  denomi- 
nations ;  they  numbered  generally  about  eighty,  girls 
and  boys  ;  their  ages  ranged  from  about  four  to  twelve 
years.  As  it  was  conducted  on  liberal  principles,  when 
the  classes  were  dismissed  the  pupils  were  allowed  to 
go  to  their  several  places  of  worship.  Major  Van- 
deleur  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  children  ;  especially 
by  those  in  his  own  class.  This  was  owing  to  the 
kind  and  affectionate  manner  with  which  he  taught 
them,  and  his  happy  mode  of  management.  And  he 
was  reverenced  as  much  as  he  was  loved. 

"Each  child  had  a  portion  of  Scripture  to  commit 
to  memory,  and  to  repeat.  The  Major  would  then 
catechise  them  upon  what  they  had  learnt.  A  chapter 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          245 

in  the  Bible  was  next  read  and  explained, — questions 
being  asked  from  time  to  time.  Should  their  attention 
slacken,  he  would  tell  some  short,  striking  Christian 
anecdote,  at  which  their  faces  used  to  brighten  up, 
while  they  listened  with  an  eager  and  delighted  atten- 
tion. As  a  further  encouragement,  he  purchased  refer- 
ence Bibles  for  his  class,  teaching  them  their  use.  He 
also  lent  them  books  and  periodicals  to  read  at  home, 
and  would  occasionally  mark  his  sense  of  their  good 
behaviour  by  inviting  one  of  their  number  to  his  quar- 
ters. This  indeed  was  a  treat  not  to  be  forgotten.  He 
was  always  most  liberal  in  everything  that  tended  to 
the  advancement  and  the  amusement  of  the  children ; 
and  his  abrupt  departure,  with  its  sorrowful  explanation, 
was  long  and  deeply  regretted  by  them  all  He  very 
kindly  left  as  a  memento  in  the  school,  a  beautiful 
concertina,  which  had  been  previously  lent  by  him  to 
accompany  the  children  in  their  singing. 

"  As  an  officer,  he  took  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  men  under  his 
command ;  and,  as  a  natural  result,  was  much  beloved 
and  respected  by  them. 

"  He  was  most  successful,  whilst  detached  with  his 
battery  at  Europa  Point,  in  assembling,  in  conjunction 
with  the  chaplain,  evening  classes  for  the  purpose  of 
reading  and  explaining  the  Scriptures,  as  well  as  in 
giving  short  Bible  lectures,  at  once  most  interesting 
and  impressive.  The  men  would  frequently  express 


24)6  THE  SHADO'.V  OF  DEATH. 

in  earnest  terms  their  gratitude  for  what  they  had 
heard,  and  for  the  kindly  manner  in  which  they  had 
been  addressed. 

"  On  wet  Sundays,  it  is  the  custom  in  Gibraltar,  to 
have  prayers  read  by  the  officers  in  the  several  barracks. 
I  well  remember  a  sergeant  telling  me  after  one  of  these 
services,  '  that  the  lieutenant  on  duty  had  read  prayers, 
and  that  the  Major  had  given  them  a  sort  of  sermon 
in  a  most  feeling  and  striking  manner,  and  that  he 
should  never  forget  his  earnestness.'  He  said  he  had 
never  seen  the  men  more  riveted. 

"  The  Major  was  most  assiduous  in  encouraging  men 
who  were  anxious  to  read  and  improve  themselves,  by 
lending  them  books. 

"He  was  a  regular  visitor  at  the  hospital,  and 
always  shewed  deep  interest  in  the  temporal  and  spirit- 
ual welfare  of  the  patients,  and  particularly  directed 
his  attention  to  those  who  were  seriously  afflicted. 
Often  would  he  fervently  pray  by  the  bedside  of  the 
sick  and  suffering  soldier,  after  reading  a  suitable 
portion  of  Scripture.  He  would  also  leave  behind  a 
goodly  supply  of  religious  tracts  and  periodicals.  '  God 
bless  you  all ! '  came  so  warm  from  his  heart,  on  leaving 
the  various  wards,  that  they  were  cold  hearts  indeed 
which  did  not  respond  to  its  affectionate  fervour." 

Month  after  month  of  Arthur's  sojourn  at  Gibraltar 
had  been  passed  in  awaiting  the  anticipated  recall  of 


THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH.          247 

his  company,  at  this  time  rendered  probable  by  changes 
which  were  being  made  in  the  organisation  of  the 
Artillery,  and  by  the  augmentation  of  the  Eegimcnt. 
But,  towards  April,  increasing  illness  made  it  plain 
that  duty  no  longer  claimed  him  at  Gibraltar.  The 
regimental  surgeons  ordered  him  home  lor  three 
months ;  and,  immediately  on  his  arrival  in  London, 
the  Medical  Board,  before  which  he  appeared,  ratified 
the  order,  with  an  addition  of  five  months  more. 


CHAPTER  XV, 


"  My  Jesus,  as  Thou  wilt ! 

Oh,  may  Thy  will  be  mine  I 
Into  Thy  hand  of  love 
I  would  my  all  resign. 

"  Through  sorrow,  or  through  joy, 

Conduct  me  as  Thine  own, 
And  help  me  still  to  say, 
My  Lord,  Thy  will  be  done  1 

"  Straight  to  my  home  above 

I  travel  calmly  on, 
And  sing,  in  life  or  death, 
My  Lord,  Thy  will  be  done  1 " 


WITH  failing  health,  but  with  a  glad  and  thankful  heart, 
Arthur  Vandeleur  hastened  to  Ireland,  to  rejoin  his 
wife  and  children. 

The  first  letter  which  he  wrote  to  me,  after  that 
blessed  meeting,  is  an  overflow  of  a  heart,  in  the  full 
tide  of  grateful  adoration  to  a  prayer-hearing  God. 
He  said  nothing  about  his  own  state  of  health. 

It  was  from  Mrs  Vandeleur  that  we  learned  the  un- 
favourable opinion  of  his  case,  which  was  entertained 
by  his  medical  advisers ;  and  still  the  darkest  side  of 
it  was  partially  concealed  from  her.  On  him,  it  made 
but  a  passing  impression.  That  hopefulness  of  dis- 
position which  was  his  characteristic,  had  sprung  up 
with  regard  to  his  recovery,  the  moment  he  felt  a  little 
better,  and  was  restored  to  his  wife  and  babes. 

The  first  few  happy  weeks,  after  their  long  separa- 
tion, were  passed  in  the  lovely  scenery  of  Killavney. 
In  the  midst  of  this  time  of  deep  and  tranquil  enjoy- 
ment, some  business  which  required  immediate  atten- 
tion, obliged  Major  Vandeleur  to  be  in  London  for  a 


252  NEAB  HOME. 

few  hours.     Allusion  to  that  flying  visit  is  made  in 
the  following  letter : — 

"RAILWAY  HOTEL,  KILLARNEY,  May  24th,  1859. 

"  It  almost  made  up  for  my  great  disappointment 
at  missing  you,  both  at  Beckenham  and  in  London,  on 
Wednesday,  to  receive  such  a  dear  letter  of  hearty 
regret.  Blessings  on  you  for  it !  But  still  I  should 
so  have  enjoyed  even  a  few  minutes'  meeting.  What 
a  charming  tea-party  and  meeting  dear  Anstruther 
had  for  the  members  of  the  Guards'  Bible-classes,  at 
Wellington  Barracks  !  It  did  my  heart  good  to  listen 
to  all  that  he  and  dear  Mr  Chalmers  and  Captain 
Trotter  said.  It  seemed  to  me  that  God  was  present 
there,  giving  a  time  of  refreshing  and  blessing,  both  to 
those  who  spoke  and  those  who  listened. 

"  Oh,  what  a  happiness  to  be  at  home,  amongst  be- 
loved friends  again  !  Goodness  and  mercy  are  indeed 
following  me  all  my  days,  and  by  and  by  I  shall  dwell 
in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever.  And  not  alone,  but 
with  all  those  whom  I  love  so  much  in  Jesus.  Glory 
be  to  the  grace  of  our  God ! " 

"KILTANON,  July  15th,  1859. 

"  We  have  had  a  most  delightful  time  in  this  much- 
loved  home  of  my  darling  wife.  Dearest  Hattie's 
marriage  was  a  very  cheerful  one  ;  and  she  has  a  bright 
prospect  of  happiness  before  her.  God  bless  her  and 


NEAR  HOME.  253 

her  husband,  and  realise  it  to  them  both,  to  the  utter- 
most ! 

"  A  large  number  of  relatives  were  congregated  for 
the  marriage,  and  they  helped  to  cheer  her  dear  father, 
for  whom  we  were  dreading  the  departure  of  his  last 
daughter,  from  daily  life  under  his  roof. 

"  Their  aunts  from  Leamington  were  here.  Such 
dear  people !  '  Aunt  Agnes '  is  always  on  the  look- 
out to  do  kind  and  unselfish  things.  I  believe  it  is 
from  the  motive,  which  I  long  to  have  in  fuller  force 
in  my  own  heart — grateful  love  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  Constantly  do  I  wish  and  pray  that  this  love 
may  be  my  all  in  all,  the  centre  and  fountain  of  all 
other  love ;  and  the  ruling,  sruiding,  consecrating 
power  of  every  feeling  01  my  neart. 

"  It  is  so  difficult  to  regard  every  one  around  you  in 
the  light  that  God  ofces  them — as  immortal  souls 
who  must  live  or  die  eternally.  "What  I  desire  is,  to 
be  made  so  Christ-like  as  to  love,  for  their  souls'  sake, 
those  whose  natural  characters  do  not  attract  me. 
Souls,  'for  whom  Christ  died/  whom  the  Father 
loved  so  well  as  to  spare  His  only  Son  that  He  might 
redeem  them  by  His  blood,  and  in  whom  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  willing  to  come  and  dwell — should  have  points 
enough  of  interest  for  us  ! 

"  It  was  so  kind  of  you  to  write  whilst  you  are  en- 
joying a  few  days  at  pleasant  Terling.  Darling  Mary 
and  I  would  greatly  like  to  pay  another  visit  to  the 


254)  NEAR  HOME. 

dear  friends  there.  How  nice  it  would  be  if  you  could 
meet  us,  as  in  those  few  days  when  they  so  kindly 
allowed  me  to  join  that  family-gathering,  soon  after 
my  return  from  the  Crimea. 

"  What  glorious  news  is  this  of  the  Eevival  in  the 
north  of  Ireland !  There  is  too  much  of  the  stamp 
of  heaven  about  its  blessed  results  to  leave  any  doubt 
that  the  work  is  of  God. 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you  that  one  would  be  thank- 
ful, if  there  were  none  of  those  distressing  outward 
symptoms.  But  try  to  prevent  our  friends  in  Eng- 
land from  disbelieving  the  reality  of  the  work,  because 
of  this  accompaniment.  They  should  remember  the 
excitability  of  the  national  character ;  and  especially 
that,  wherever  there  is  a  work  of  God,  Satan  will  try 
to  do  all  the  damage  to  it  that  he  can. 

"  Will  you  ask  our  friends  to  pray  that  the  Eevival 
may  spread  towards  the  south-west  of  Ireland  ?  I  have 
great  hopes  that  it  may.  About  four  thousand  persons 
have  been  attending  open-air  preaching  in  Limerick. 
Ah,  if  the  warm  Irish  hearts  should  receive  '  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus/  nothing  more  would  be  wanted 
to  make  the  country  that  which  Dan  O'Connell  so 
often  boasted — 

'  First  flower  of  the  earth, 
And  first  gem  of  the  sea ! ' 

"  God  be  praised  for  the  welcome  news  of  peace  !  We 
can  hardly  expect  it  to  be  of  long  continuance ;  but 


NEAB  HOME.  255 

any  respite  from  the  dire  calamity  of  war  is  a  blessing 
indeed" 

During  this  visit  to  Ireland,  having  occasion  to  meet 
his  tenantry  with  reference  to  an  election,  he  assembled 
them  afterwards  by  his  mother's  grave ;  and  there,  in 
words  which  touched  every  heart,  besought  them  to 
follow  her,  and  to  come  with  him,  to  Jesus  Christ  and 
glory. 

For  a  time  after  his  return  to  Woolwich,  our  hearts 
were  cheered  by  his  evident  power  of  rallying.  There 
seemed  too  much  life  and  energy  about  him  to  be 
associated  with  the  idea  of  a  hopeless  malady.  He 
believed  himself  to  be  recovering,  and  rejoiced  in  the 
thought  of  prolonged  life  devoted  to  his  Saviour's 
service. 

"  OSMASTON  MANOR,  September  24th,  1859. 
"  We  are  thoroughly  enjoying  our  little  holiday.  It 
is  most  refreshing  to  us  to  be  in  the  midst  of  a  family 
so  entirely  given  to  the  Lord,  and  to  His  work ;  and, 
most  of  all,  to  enjoy  communion  and  fellowship  with 
that  most  dear  fellow  and  devoted  Christian,  Stevenson 
Blackwood,  and  his  truly  noble  wife.  We  have  had  some 
delightful  meetings  for  reading  the  Bible,  conversation, 
and  prayer,  suggested  by  him ;  and  both  darling  Mary 
and  I  have  felt  it  '  good  for  us  to  be  there.'  You  will, 
I  know,  pray  for  us,  that  all  we  have  seen  and  heard  here 


256  NEAE  HOME. 

may  rouse  us  up  to  a  more  thorough  devotion  of  body, 
soul,  and  spirit,  to  our  blessed  Master's  cause,  the  win- 
ning souls  of  every  age  and  rank  and  race  to  serve  in 
the  great  army  of  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord.  I  hope  and 
pray  that  it  may  be  so,  and  I  think  it  will,  and,  oh, 
how  full  of  joy  and  unalloyed  delight  that  blessed  ser- 
vice is  !  No  tongue  can  tell  but  they  who  have  been 
permitted  to  enlist  under  the  blessed  banner  of  the 
great  Captain  of  our  salvation." 

"  MABTON  ROAD,  WOOLWICH, 
December  3rd,  1859. 

"  It  has  been  a  great  sorrow  to  me  not  to  be  able 
for  so  many  days  to  answer  your  very  precious  letter. 
Duty  of  all  kinds,  not  to  be  avoided  or  neglected,  must 
plead  my  excuse.  I  have  been  worked  to  the  utmost 
of  my  strength,  but,  thank  God,  not  beyond  it.  How 
shall  we  thank  you  enough,  for  all  your  prayers  for  us 
Surely  they  have  been  heard,  for  in  every  way,  both  in 
spiritual  and  temporal  things,  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
has  been  over  us  for  good.  Oh  for  hearts  filled  to  the 
brim  with  gratitude  and  love !  Since  our  delightful 
visit  to  you,  we  have  been  to  Birch  Hall,  and  enjoyed 
our  stay  there,  thoroughly.  We  came  in  for  the  An- 
nual Bible  Society  Meeting  at  Colchester,  which  we 
liked  so  much.  We  returned  to  our  home,  greatly  re- 
freshed, both  in  soul  and  body. 

"  The  work  here  is  going  on  very  nicely  and  steadily. 


NEAR  HOME.  257 

Our  adult  gunner  classes  on  Friday  evenings  give  us 
all  much  pleasure  and  encouragement.  I  have  given 
to  many  of  mine  those  dear  little  red  books ;  and  last 
night  they  told  me  so  earnestly  that  they  liked  them 
very  much  indeed.  I  do  believe  that  God  is  touching 
the  hearts  of  many  by  the  mighty  power  of  His  Holy 
Spirit.  Glory  and  praise  be  unto  Him,  to  all  eternity ! 
"  Our  best  love  to  all  beneath  that  blessed  Rectory 
roof." 

A  staft'-sergeant  of  the  Royal  Artillery  who  met 
Major  Vandeleur  one  evening  in  a  street  of  the  town 
of  Woolwich ;  remembers  that  after  conversing  with 
him  earnestly,  and  encouraging  him  to  persevere  in 
seeking  to  follow  that  Saviour  whom  he  had  already 
chosen  to  serve,  Major  Vandeleur  told  him  how 
much  interest  and  sympathy  he  felt  with  those  ser- 
geants who  had  been  selected  to  visit  their  sick  com- 
rades in  the  hospital ;  and  then  alluding  to  a  book  called 
the  "  Sunday-school  Teacher's  Treasury,"  from  which 
he  had  derived  great  help  in  imparting  instruction,  he 
said  he  thought  it  would  be  a  valuable  aid  to  them  in 
their  labours  of  love.  Finding  that  the  non-commis- 
sioned officers  did  not  possess  it,  he  gave  the  sergeant 
a  sovereign  for  the  purchase  of  four  copies,  one  for 
himself,  one  to  be  deposited  in  the  Soldiers'  Insti- 
tute, and  two  to  be  given  to  the  other  sergeants  ap- 
pointed to  read  in  the  hospital.  Then,  shaking  hands 


258  NEAR  HOME. 

with  him,  he  bade  him  "  Look  to  Jesus,  the  author  and 
finisher  of  his  faith." 

"This  commendation  to  a  Saviour's  love  and  grace," 
writes  the  sergeant,*  who  has  requested  that  this  anec- 
dote be  recorded,  "appears  as  if  it  were  repeated  to 
me,  in  those  kind,  earnest  tones,  every  time  I  revisit 
the  grave  where  lie  the  loved  remains  of  Major  Van- 
deleur." 

"  28  MAKYON  ROAD,  WOOLWICH, 
December  22nd,  1859. 

"  MY  DEAR  GENERAL, — Among  the  many  blessings 
it  has  been  my  privilege  to  enjoy  since  my  return  to 
Woolwich  in  August  last,  not  one  has  awakened  a 
deeper  thrill  of  gratitude  and  thankfulness  than  the 
arrival  of  your  most  kind,  affectionate,  and  welcome 
letter.  We  most  heartily  thank  God  for  it,  and  for  all 
it  contains.  It  is  delightful  to  know  that  you  and  dear- 
est Mrs  Anderson  continue  to  remember  us  in  any  way, 
but  especially  in  prayer.  Who  can  tell  how  many  of 
our  multitude  of  blessings  we  owe  to  those  prayers  of 
yours,  our  dear  and  very  valued  friends ! 

"  There  is  much  going  on  about  us  that  I  know  will 
interest  you ;  and  as  you  ask  me  to  be  minute,  I  must 
try  to  obey,  like  a  good  soldier. 

"  I  will  first  speak  of  Woolwich  generally.  In 
spiritual  matters  you  will  rejoice  to  know  that  there 
is  a  great  extension  of  the  Lord's  work  going  on 
*  Sergeant-Major  Revill. 


NEAE  HOME.  259 

around  us.  You  were  permitted  to  sow  much  seed, 
and  I  trust,  please  God,  that  you  may  live  to  see  and 
know  that  it  is  bearing  much  fruit  unto  life  eternal. 
There  is  as  yet  nothing  that  should  be  called  a  revival 
in  Woolwich,  generally,  but  there  are  evident  signs 
that  the  reviving  shower  is  gradually  coming  over  us, 
and  we  are  beginning  to  feel  the  first  drops  of  the 
longed-for  blessing.  The  Plumstead  Sunday-schools, 
and  those  in  the  Arsenal — the  former  under  that  de- 
voted man  Travers,  the  latter  under  dear  Orr — are  giv- 
ing evident  token  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  working  in  an 
unwonted  and  special  manner.  Colonel  Travers  assures 
me  that  the  whole  tone  of  the  schools  is  changed,  and 
that  many  of  the  children  are  evidently  converted  ;  and 
so  much  heartfelt  interest  and  earnestness  is  manifested, 
that  it  only  remains  for  him  to  guide  and  regulate  its 
expression,  and  to  direct  it  into  the  proper  channel. 

"Mr  Hare  has  obtained  the  consent  of  the  Com- 
mandant— who,  I  rejoice  to  say,  favours  everything 
which  would  tend  to  promote  the  best  welfare  of 
the  soldier — to  allow  any  of  the  men  who  might  feel 
so  inclined,  to  devote  an  hour  of  their  school-time  on 
Friday  evenings,  to  religious  instruction.  Classes  have 
been  formed,  and  many  volunteers  come  to  them  ;  and 
we  have  thus  a  better  chance  than  we  ever  had  before 
for  getting  at  the  hearts  of  the  full-grown  soldiers. 
We  have  about  seven  classes,  and  an  average  attend- 
ance of  about  one  hundred;  and  it  is  delightful  to 


260  NEAR  HOME. 

observe  the  sober  and  even  anxious  earnestness,  with 
which  these  men  listen  to  the  gospel  call.  Oh  that 
He  who  has  thus  opened  a  wide  door,  may  of  His 
mercy  bring  many  lost  sheep  back  into  the  only  true 
Fold — Jesus  Christ ! 

"  Mr  Hare  is  now  the  rallying-point  for  the  officers 
of  the  garrison.  I  never  go  to  his  house  on  Tuesday 
evenings  without  thinking  of  the  happy  meetings  we 
have  so  often  enjoyed  in  your  well-remembered  house 
on  the  common.  The  meetings  are  very  well  attended, 
as  many  as  thirty-five  sometimes  being  present. 

"You  most  kindly  ask  after  ourselves.  I  had,  at 
last,  to  come  home  from  Gibraltar  on  sick  leave.  My 
lungs  were  much  affected,  but,  thank  God,  only  with 
chronic  bronchitis  ;  and  since  my  return,  I  have  rapidly 
and  steadily  gained  health  and  strength,  although  I 
feel  this  severe  weather.  It  is  delightful  to  have 
sufficient  strength  to  work  for  our  blessed  Lord  and 
Master ;  and  this  we  try  to  do  every  day.  Our  little 
ones  are  both  flourishing,  and  are  growing  most  at- 
tractive ;  indeed,  my  very  dear  friend,  we  are  sur- 
rounded with  blessings,  and  have  every  moment  fresh 
occasions  for  praise. 

"  Ever  your  very  grateful  and  affectionate  friend, 
"  ARTHUR  VANDELEUR." 

On  Friday,  in  the  second  week  of  January  I860 — 
that  week  which  encircled  the  globe  with  an  atmo- 


NEAR  HOME.  261 

sphere  of  prayer,  the  warmth  and  light  of  which,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  have  not  yet  faded  away — a  special 
prayer-meeting  for  the  army  was  held  at  the  Barn  at 
Beckenham. 

Arthur  Vandeleur  came  over  to  us  for  that  meeting ; 
and  then,  for  the  first  time,  we  began  to  realise  that  he 
was  in  a  hopeless  decline.  Seldom,  if  ever,  have  I  seen 
a  spirit  so  brave  and  strong,  in  a  frame  so  weakened 
and  attenuated.  He  was  as  cheerful  as  ever;  but  it 
was  a  most  hallowed  cheerfulness,  like  that  of  one  who 
kept  the  eternal  realities  ever  before  him. 

A  dear  young  friend  was  with  us  that  night,  to 
whom,  when  he  was  entering  on  his  course  of  military 
education  at  Addiscombe  College,  Arthur  Vandeleur 
had  spoken  words  of  wise  and  loving  counsel,  which 
had  been  greatly  blessed  to  his  stablishing  and  strength- 
ening in  the  Christian  life.  To  learn  that  those  brief 
words  had  been  thus  owned  of  God,  was  one  of  the 
many  good  gifts,  of  a  similar  nature,  which  seemed  to 
have  been  kept,  through  the  tender  love  of  the  Divine 
Master,  to  cheer  His  faithful  servant  during  the  last 
suffering  months  of  his  life. 

Ill  as  he  was,  he  still  insisted  upon  accompanying 
us  to  the  meeting ;  and  there  he  poured  out  his  soul  in 
prayer  for  the  army,  with  a  holy  fervour  which  few 
who  heard  him  could  forget. 

A  solemn  and  sorrowful  impression  was  left  upon 
our  hearts  that  night.  Passing,  as  it  did,  like  a  com- 


262  KEAE  HOME. 

inon  evening,  and  mingled,  though  he  was,  in  all  our 
interests,  we  still  silently  felt  that  he  stood  apart  from 
us,  as  the  dying  from  the  living,  and  that  in  the  place 
where  that  beloved  voice  had  so  often  been  lifted  up  in 
prayer,  it  would  be  heard  no  more  for  ever. 

"MABYON  ROAD,  January  2lst,  1860. 

"I  cannot  dream  of  allowing  this  happy  day  to 
close,  without  sending  some  answer,  however  unworthy, 
to  that  loved  letter,  so  full  of  precious  prayer  and  birth- 
day blessings,  which  greeted  me  this  morning.  .... 

"  I  trust  you  will  have  such  a  blessed  day  with  Mr 
Eadcliffe,  as  we  had  last  Sunday,  in  the  Scottish  church. 
It  was  deeply  solemn  and  awakening.  His  appeal  to 
the  unconverted  was  very  powerful.  The  impression 
on  my  mind  the  whole  time  was,  that,  as  of  old,  '  the 
power  of  the  Lord  was  present  to  heal.'  ....  How 
earnestly  we  should  pray  for  one  who  has  been  so  owned 
of  God,  that  he  may  be  kept  humble  and  holy,  and  have 

a  right  judgment  given  him  in  all  things Could 

you  come  and  stay  with  us  for  a  few  days,  it  would  be 
better  than  pounds  of  tonics  and  quinine  to  my  Mary 
and  me.  If  it  might  seem  good  to  my  God,  I  would 
desire  of  Him  rather  more  health  and  strength  than  I 
possess  at  present.  But  He  knows  what  is  most  for 
His  glory  and  my  good ;  and  on  this  day  I  especially 
desire  to  commit  myself,  body  and  soul,  to  His  blessed 
keeping.  Thus,  and  thus  only,  ALL  is  WELL." 


NEAR  HOME.  263 

Up  to  the  middle  of  February,  notwithstanding  his 
gradually  increasing  weakness  and  illness,  he  still 
scrupulously  performed  all  his  duties  as  a  field-officer ; 
and  almost  every  leisure  evening  which  he  had,  was 
devoted  to  attending  the  prayer-meetings  at  Woolwich, 
or  to  holding  a  Bible-class  of  soldiers.  His  gunners' 
class  was  a  source  of  the  deepest  interest  to  him.  He 
loved  the  men,  and  was  repaid  by  their  warm  and 
reverent  affection,  and  far  more  than  rewarded  by  the 
good  hope  that  many  of  them  were  led  to  seek  and  find 
salvation  through  Jesus  Christ. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  he  attended  the  annual 
meeting  at  Woolwich,  for  the  Soldiers'  Scripture  Society. 
It  was  his  last  public  effort  of  the  kind.  Some  who 
heard  him  compared  his  speech  to  a  silver  cord,  which 
drew  the  hearts  of  all  the  hearers  to  himself,  and  with 
him,  up  to  the  very  gate  of  heaven. 

After  this,  he  was  for  some  time  confined  to  his 
house  by  an  attack  of  fever  and  ague.  But  his  sym- 
pathies were  as  fresh  as  ever,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
letter  which  follows  : — • 

"  WOOLWICH,  Saturday  Evening. 

"Your  welcome  letter  of  sympathy  and  love  has 
been  a  cordial  to  my  heart  ever  since  it  came.  We 
prayed  most  earnestly  for  you,  that  your  visits  to  the 

ships  at ,  might  be  productive  of  great  results,  in 

bringing  many  souls  to  Jesus  by  the  power  of  His 


264  NEAR  HOME. 

Spirit.  May  He  cause  His  own  work  to  spread  on  all 
sides ! 

"  I  have  heard  to-day  that  a  few  of  the  cadets,  at 
Woolwich,  are  making  a  stand  on  the  Lord's  side.  Will 
not  this  rejoice  the  heart  of  our  dear  friend,  Major  Gibb? 
How  charming  it  will  be  if  a  little  band  should  unite 
together  here  in  prayer  and  in  reading  the  Bible,  like 
those  dear  young  Christians  at  Addiscombe !  I  have 
already  been  requested  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  one 
'  who  earnestly  desires  to  be  kept  from  falling  into  sin.' 
That  is  a  call  to  be  attended  to,  at  once. 

"  Your  dear  Bob  was  down  at  Woolwich  last  week.  It 
did  my  heart  good  to  look  upon  his  face  again ;  and  to  hear 
his  pleasant  cheery  talk,  with  his  clear,  bright  thoughts 
upon  subjects  of  highest  interest.  I  love  him  dearly. 

"  There  are  some  very  earnest  Christians  now,  thank 
God,  amongst  my  brother-officers  here ;  and  the  work 
of  the  Lord  is  prospering  in  their  hands.  If  you  will 
come  and  spend  a  day  with  us  soon,  we  shall  have  a 
great  deal  to  tell  you  which  will  cheer  your  heart,  and 
make  you  bless  and  praise  our  God  and  Father  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

In  the  month  of  March,  Major  and  Mrs  Vandeleur 
spent  a  few  days  at  Hastings,  and  the  sea-breezes 
seemed  for  the  time  to  rally  his  failing  powers.  He 
returned  to  Woolwich  to  find  that,  through  the  influ- 
ence of  his  friend  Colonel  Tulloh,  he  had  been  ap- 


NEAR  HOME.  265 

pointed  Assistant-Inspector  of  Artillery.  It  was  witli 
peculiar  pleasure  that  he  found  himself  again  employed 
in  the  Arsenal :  the  appointment  was  especially  suited 
to  his  tastes  and  talents,  and  the  prospect  of  holding 
it  under  Colonel  Tulloh,  who  had  treated  him  with 
unvarying  kindness,  and  whose  friendship  he  had  long 
valued,  gave  an  additional  zest  to  his  gratification  in 
the  matter.  But  deeply  touching  was  it,  to  all  who 
watched  his  declining  health,  to  witness  the  efforts 
he  made  to  battle  with  rapidly-increasing  disease,  and 
to  fulfil  his  duties  to  the  uttermost.  Each  day  his 
kind  and  considerate  "  chief  "  urged  him  to  take  more 
rest ;  but  almost  every  morning  found  him  at  his  post, 
with  unabated  spirit  and  energy,  determined  to  go 
through  the  work  of  the  day,  although  returning 
home  each  afternoon,  completely  exhausted  in  mind 
and  body ;  for  he  had  now  reached  that  advanced  stage 
of  consumption,  which  deprives  most  of  its  victims  of 
the  power  of  even  rising  from  their  beds. 

No  one  could  be  a  visitor  under  his  roof,  at  this  time, 
without  marvelling  at  the  exceeding  grace  of  God  that 
was  in  him.  His  warmth  of  temper — which  was  not 
without  its  charm  for  those  who  loved  him,  because 
they  knew  so  well  that  one  gentle  word  was  enough, 
at  any  moment,  to  melt  him  into  generous  tenderness 
and  touching  acknowledgment  of  error — was  now  kept 
under  the  most  watchful  control. 

There  had  always  been  a  remarkable  contrast  be- 


266  NEAR  HOME. 

tween  his  almost  morbid  sensitiveness  to  the  slightest 
ridicule,  touching  himself  or  his  friends,  and  his  holy 
boldness  and  utter  disregard  of  the  sneer  of  the  world 
when  directed  against  his  fearless  religion,  and  the 
open  honour  which  he  set  upon  all  things  belonging  to 
his  King,  and  for  His  sake,  upon  all  those  whom  he 
believed  to  be  serving  Him.  But  now,  the  love  of 
that  Eedeemer  seemed  to  flow  as  the  river  of  God, 
which  is  full  of  water,  through  the  channel  of  that 
human  soul.  Every  concern  of  His  kingdom  to  the 
remotest  end  of  the  earth,  had  an  interest  and  a  charm 
for  him.  And  his  "  love  of  the  brethren/'  seemed  to 
give  one  a  glimpse  into  the  world  of  love  beyond  the 
veil,  which  was  already  almost  transparent  to  his  eyes. 
On  the  1 2th  of  April,  he  wrote — "  I  am  now,  blessed 
be  the  holy  name  of  my  Lord  and  Master,  much  better 
as  to  the  attack  of  fever  and  ague,  although  very 
weak  still.  During  my  long  illness,  many  indeed  have 
been  the  striking  and  most  beautiful  tokens  of  my 
precious  Saviour's  love ;  and  at  times  I  have  been  able 
to  rejoice  in  Him  with  all  my  heart  and  soul.  At 
other  times,  my  mind  seems  to  have  partaken  of  the 
feebleness  of  my  body,  and  I  could  hardly  even  bear 
to  think.  It  has  been  a  long  trial  for  my  Mary  ;  bufe 
she  bears  up  most  nobly,  and  never  seems  to  remember 
herself.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  have  her  brothers, 
dear  Trevor  and  Charles,  here ;  they  are  so  full  of 
affectionate  kindness  and  sympathy. 


NEAR  HOME.  267 

"I  am  writing  from  my  birthday  inkstand — my 
drum  with  arms  piled.  How  lovely  it  is  !  I  believe 
it  was  cut  out  of  a  nugget ! !  And  the  rifles  are  per- 
fect. It  stands  always  on  the  little  table  by  my  side  ; 
and  it  seems  to  speak  to  me  of  one  who  has  (now,  for 
years  past,)  with  a  mother's  watchful  tenderness,  cared 
for  my  welfare  and  happiness  and  comfort.  Blessings 
on  her,  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  I  can  ask 
or  think  I 

"  I  have  two  books  to  send  as  Easter  gifts  for  dear 
Kennie  and  little  Dalzell,  when  your  beloved  sister 
drives  over  again.  How  refreshing  is  all  intercourse 
with  her  sweet  and  loving  spirit ! " 

Thus,  to  the  last,  was  all  that  could  give  pleasure, 
by  word  or  deed,  to  friend  or  child,  ever  thoughtfully 
remembered  by  him. 

TO  GENERAL  ANDERSON,  RA. 

"28  MARYON  ROAD,  CHARLTON, 
April  17  th,  1860. 

"MY  DEAR  GENERAL, — Your  most  kind  letter  of 
sympathy  and  congratulation  on  my  recent  appoint- 
ment to  the  Arsenal,  was  a  true  cordial  to  my  own  and 
my  precious  wife's  heart. 

"  Truly,  such  a  letter  is  more  to  be  prized  than  a  bag 
of  gold  placed  in  the  hand. 

"  Since  I  last  wrote,  we  have  been  at  Hastings  on 


268  NEAR  HOME. 

leave,  for  the  sake  of  the  mild,  pure  air,  as  I  have 
been  seriously  ill,  the  last  three  months  ;  but  I  am 
now,  through  God's  mercy,  nearly  well  again,  though 
very  weak.  My  beloved  wife  also  is  far  from  strong  ; 
but  it  is  most  cheering  to  see  her  untiring  energy  in 
the  work  of  the  Lord. 

"Shortly  before  the  Himalaya  started  for  China, 
with  troops,  our  excellent  friend  Mrs  Thompson  had 
prayed  and  read  the  Scriptures  with  one  or  two  ser- 
geants, and  they  promised  to  try  to  get  together  a 
Scripture-reading  class  on  board.  They  did  so ;  and 
one  of  them  wrote  from  Alexandria  to  Mrs  Thompson, 
to  tell  her  that  eleven  non-commissioned  officers  and 
several  men  had  joined  the  class.  What  noble  in- 
fluence these  pious  men  may  exert  in  China,  among 
both  English  and  Chinese  !  May  they  be  given  grace 
and  strength  to  'endure  hardness  as  good  soldiers  of 
Jesus  Christ ! ' 

"  Travers  continues  to  speak  with  deep  thankfulness 
of  the  work  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  in  the  Plumstead 
School ;  so  many  lads  and  girls  are  decidedly  con- 
verted to  God.  In  Orr's  school,  in  the  Arsenal,  there 
is  also  a  great  deal  to  delight  and  encourage. — Ever 
yours  most  affectionately, 

"A.  VANDELEUE." 

In  the  month  of  May,  whilst  Major  and  Mrs  Van- 
deleur  were  spending  a  few  days  in  London  with  their 


NEAE  HOME.  2G9 

sympathising  and  beloved  friends,  Mr  and  Mrs  Round, 
the  medical  advisers  whom  he  then  consulted,  urged 
upon  him  the  duty  of  at  once  resigning  his  appoint- 
ment in  the  Arsenal. 

"After  taking  a  short  time  for  prayer  on  the  sub- 
ject," wrote  Mrs  Vandeleur,  "my  beloved  husband 
resigned  his  will  with  the  most  lovely  and  cheerful 
submission  to  the  will  of  his  Father  in  heaven.  For 
some  weeks  past  he  had  felt  that,  should  he  be  called 
to  make  this  sacrifice,  it  would  be  a  terrible  trial,  and 
he  had  feared  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  bear  it 
patiently.  But  when  the  trial  came,  the  needed  grace 
came  with  it ;  and  beautiful  it  was  to  see  the  smile 
which  lighted  up  his  face,  as  he  said,  '  Then,  my  Mary, 
it  must  be  given  up — Yes  !  and  without  one  murmur.' " 

In  the  course  of  the  following  day  I  received  this 
letter  from  him.  It  proved  to  be  the  last  which  he 
ever  wrote  me: — 

"  5  SUSSEX  SQUARE,  LONDON, 
May  \5th,  1860. 

"  You  shall  be  the  very  first  to  receive  a  letter  from 
me,  in  our  deep  trouble.  Our  heavenly  Father  sustains 
us  both  ;  but  it  is  a  terrible  blow.  Dr  Watson  has  this 
morning  declared  me  quite  unfit  for  work  at  present, 
and  could  not  even  give  me  any  hope  of  being  ready 
for  it  soon. 

"  You  know  what  all  this  involves ;  the  giving  up  of 
the  appointment  so  pleasant  to  work  in,  and  so  suited 


270  NEAR  HOME. 

to  me  in  every  way ;  the  leaving  Woolwich,  perhaps 
England,  and  all  those  I  love  so  truly,  and  whose 
society  and  counsels  have  been  so  precious  to  my  be- 
loved wife  and  myself.  It  is  grievous ;  but  she,  the 
true  wife,  smothers  her  own  sorrow,  and  comforts  me 
constantly  by  pointing  to  the  love  of  Him  who  sends 
this  trial,  '  that  we  might  be  partakers  of  His  holiness/ 
We  are  with  the  dear  Rounds,  who  are  all  kindness 
and  love. 

"  I  have  no  strength  to  write  more.  We  return  home 
to-morrow.  Ever — precious  friend,  mother,  and  sister 
— your  own  loving  and  grateful  son  and  brother." 

Up  to  this  time,  and  even  on  the  following  Sabbath, 
he  still  persevered  in  going  to  church ;  and  devoutly 
welcomed  every  opportunity  of  receiving  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

On  the  23rd  of  May,  he  went  with  Mrs  Vandeleur, 
for  change  of  air,  to  East  Coombe,  near  Blackheath,  the 
residence  of  his  valued  Christian  friends,  Mr  and  Mrs 
Mentor  Mott.  Here  he  was  tended  with  the  most 
considerate  and  affectionate  care.  His  friends  were 
painfully  struck  with  his  extreme  weakness ;  and  it 
was  evident  to  them  that  he  was  rapidly  sinking.  From 
himself,  it  seemed,  at  this  time,  to  be  hidden.  But 
those  who  loved  him  best,  felt  that  this  was  a  matter  of 
no  moment  for  one  whose  heart  was  filled  with  the 
Saviour's  peace,  and  whose  lips  were  continually 


NEAR  HOME.  271 

breathing  that  Saviour's  name.  She  who  was  just 
then  bearing  alone  the  burden  of  the  dread  of  their 
approaching  parting,  was  thankful  for  each  day  that 
his  tender  spirit  was  spared  from  fully  realising  the 
trial  which  was  falling  upon  herself;  strangely  sad 
though  it  was,  for  the  first  time  since  their  marriage,  to 
bear  a  sorrow  unshared  and  unsoothed  by  him. 

On  the  2-ith,  Mrs  Mott's  sister,  Mrs  Thompson,  (who 
has  since  devoted  herself  to  a  missionary  labour  of  love 
amongst  the  Maronites,)  drove  over  to  Beckenham  with 
Major  Vandeleur ;  as  he  had  set  his  heart  on  making 
arrangements  for  a  visit  to  the  Rectory  early  in  the  en- 
suing week,  with  the  earnestness  of  an  unacknowledged 
consciousness  that  he  was  coming  to  take  a  last  long 
leave  of  friends  who  were,  one  and  all,  so  deeply 
attached  to  him. 

At  that  time,  two  beloved  members  of  our  family 
circle  were  seriously  ill ;  but  we  all  felt,  alike,  that 
nothing  must  be  allowed  to  delay  his  visit. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  whilst  still  at  East 
Coombe,  he  awoke  at  sunrise  with  a  sense  of  suffoca- 
tion, and  panting  for  breath.  Mrs  Vandeleur  opened 
the  window ;  and  as  the  glorious  rays  of  the  rising 
sun  fell  around  him,  he  raised  his  beaming  eyes,  ex- 
claiming, "  Oh  for  the  blaze  of  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness !" 

The  next  day  was  Whitsunday.  It  was  a  lovely 
morning;  but  his  days  for  joining  the  worshippers  in 


272  NEAE  HOME. 

an  earthly  temple  were  over.  His  wife  read  part  of 
the  Service,  and  the  Lessons,  to  him ;  and  then  they 
strolled  out  upon  the  lawn,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  morning  quietly  there,  amidst  the  calm  of  the 
sheltering  trees,  soft  summer  breezes,  and  still  sunshine ; 
taking  sweet  counsel  together  of  the  things  that  be- 
longed to  their  everlasting  peace.  A  treasured  memory 
is  that  Sabbath  morning,  to  the  one  who  is  left  sorrow- 
ing on  earth,  and  not  forgotten,  we  believe,  by  the  one 
who  is  bearing  a  victor's  palm  before  the  throne  of  the 
Lamb.  In  the  afternoon,  their  friend  Mrs  Hare  came 
to  spend  an  hour  with  him  ;  and  an  hour  of  delightful 
intercourse  it  proved  to  be.  Several  times  Arthur  re- 
ferred to  it,  as  having  been  to  him  a  foretaste  of  the 
converse  of  Heaven. 

The  day  before  he  left  East  Coornbe,  Mrs  Vandeleur 
was  obliged  to  return  to  Woolwich  for  an  hour  or  two, 
and  Mrs  Thompson  remained  with  him.  He  was  un- 
usually depressed,  and  after  telling  her  that  at  times  he 
believed  that  his  end  was  near,  the  real  source  of  his 
grief  burst  forth  like  a  torrent,  as  he  bitterly  mourned 
over  what  he  called  "  the  uselessness  of  his  life." 

"  What  have  I  ever  done  for  my  Master  ?  How  I  have 
wasted  my  opportunities !  I  am  going  to  give  an  account 
of  my  stewardship,  and  what  an  account  it  must  be!" 

Mrs  Thompson  felt  that  this  was  but  a  device  of  the 
great  enemy,  to  mar  his  peace ;  and  endeavoured  to 
comfort  him  by  asking,  if  he  could  not  remember  any 


NEAK  HOME.  273 

instance  in  which  it  had  pleased  God  to  bless  his  words 
to  some  poor  sinner.  His  face  brightened  as  she 
spoke,  and,  with  expressions  of  the  deepest  thankful- 
ness, he  recalled,  one  by  one,  encouragements  merci- 
fully given  to  him  by  a  gracious  Master,  and  many 
instances  in  which  He  had  made  use  of  him  to  bring 
sinners  to  the  foot  of  the  Cross.  He  was  at  all  times 
extremely  silent  on  this  subject,  seldom  speaking  of  it 
even  to  the  one  nearest  and  dearest  to  him.  But  we 
know  that  both  his  example  and  his  words  were  widely 
blessed  Even  in  the  short  interval  between  the  time 
when  his  death  was  known  in  Woolwich,  and  the  day 
on  which  he  was  laid  in  his  last  resting-place,  many 
testified  with  tears  as  to  what  he  had  been  to  them — 
the  instrument  in  God's  hands  of  bringing  them  to  a 
knowledge  of  their  Saviour. 

The  following  morning,  his  kind  and  sympathising 
friend,  Sir  Richard  Dacres,  Commandant  of  the  Garri- 
son, and  several  of  Arthur's  brother-officers,  came  over 
from  Woolwich,  to  see  him.  There  was  evidently  an 
impression  on  the  minds  of  all  that  it  was  for  the  last 
time. 

Many  non-commissioned  officers  and  men  also  came 
to  inquire  after  him  ;  and  some  lingered  about,  hoping 
to  catch  another  glimpse  of  one  so  well-beloved. 


CHAPTER  XVI, 

ft*  fast  SlMj. 

"  So  He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep.* 

*  They  say  he  died ; — it  seem'd  to  me, 
That  after  hours  of  pain  and  strife, 
He  slept  one  evening  peacefully, 
And  woke  in  everlasting  life." 


JUST  at  the  same  season  of  the  year,  in  which  he  had 
arrived  at  Beckenham  Rectory,  five  years  before,  in  joy- 
ous health  and  spirits,  for  his  first  visit  on  his  return 
from  the  Crimea,  Arthur  came  once  more — a  dying  man. 
Yet,  even  then,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  associate 
with  him,  any  thought  that  was  not  bright  with  life  and 
hope.  Again  we  heard  that  welcome  sound  of  his  clear, 
pleasant  laugh,  ending  with  a  little  shout  of  glee  pecu- 
liar to  himself.  Again  we  found  him  ready  for  cheerful 
converse,  happiest  when  it  dwelt  on  the  Christian's 
highest  hopes,  but  ready  to  enter  with  zest  into  all  that 
interested  us. 

Not  allowing  himself  to  fall  into  the  usual  ways  of 
invalids,  he  joined  the  family  circle  at  meal-times, 
excepting  at  breakfast  only ;  and  was  not  unmindful 
of  any  of  the  little  courtesies  of  life.  His  early  friend, 
Mr  O'Donnell,  might  even  have  recalled  that  impres- 
sion of  Arthur's  boyhood  to  which  he  alluded  in  his 
description  of  him  : — "  I  thought  him  very  careful  of 
his  personal  appearance/'  Yet,  mingling  with  the  un- 
conquered  spirit,  which  seemed  to  triumph  over  the 


278  THE  LAST  SLEEP. 

weakness  and  suffering  of  a  dying  illness,  there  was,  at 
times,  an  almost  childlike  dependence,  which  his  brave 
endurance  only  rendered  the  more  deeply  touching. 

The  last  of  May  was  a  day  of  unbroken  sunshine 
and  soft  westerly  wind  ;  and  Arthur  expressed  a  wish 
to  sit  on  the  lawn  for  an  hour,  under  the  shade  of  an 
old  spreading  chestnut-tree,  which  he  had  always  par- 
ticularly admired.  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  his 
companion,  during  that  time ;  for  which  I  thank  God 
to  this  day. 

"  I  wished  to  ask  you,"  he  began,  in  a  tone  of  deep 
solemnity,  "whether  it  is  possible  that  I  may  have 
been  deceiving  myself  all  along,  in  the  belief  that  I 
have  loved  my  Saviour.  Now  that  I  feel  drawing  near 
to  death,  I  shrink  from  leaving  that  little  tender,  pre- 
cious wife,  and  our  sweet  children,  to  battle  with  life 
without  me.  The  thought  of  parting  with  them,  in 
itself,  is  a  terrible  pang.  Would  this  be  so,  if  I  had 
truly  loved  my  Saviour  ?  Should  I  not  be  longing  to 
go  to  Him  ?  Can  I  have  deceived  myself  all  along,  in 
believing  that  I  have  loved  Him  ? " 

After  a  moment's  pause  for  prayer,  I  replied,  "Your 
safety,  as  you  well  know,  does  not  depend  upon  your 
love  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  but  upon  His  love  for 
you.  '  He  loved  you,  and  gave  Himself  for  you.'  And 
He  has  told  you,  '  He  that  heareth  my  word,  and  be- 
lieveth  on  Him  that  sent  me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and 
shall  not  come  into  condemnation  ;  but  is  jxissed  from 


THE  LAST  SLEEP.  279 

death  unto  life.'  If  you  had  deceived  yourself,  in  the 
time  that  is  past,  He  can  never  deceive  you.  The  life 
once  given  you  through  believing  in  Him — or,  if  you 
had  never  believed  before,  which  would  be  given  you 
now,  as  you  believe  '  His  Word ' — it  is  IMPOSSIBLE  that 
He  should  withdraw,  for  any  infirmity  on  your  part. 
But  my  own  entire  conviction  is,  that  that  blessed 
Saviour — one  of  whose  last  thoughts,  when  dying  to 
redeem  a  world,  was  for  the  comfort  of  His  mother — 
far  from  deeming  that  there  is  unfaithfulness  towards 
Him,  in  your  tender  love  for  your  wife  and  children, 
would  be  much  less  pleased  if  you  were  so  occupied 
with  your  own  near  prospect  of  immeasurable  gain,  as 
to  forget  the  grievous  loss  which  it  must  involve  for 
them." 

"Do  you  think  so?"  he  said,  his  trustful  spirit 
receiving  the  suggestion  at  once.  "  Oh,  that  is  com- 
fort indeed  I  And  perhaps,  after  all,  then  I  do  love 
Him.  For  if  the  cry,  '  Behold  the  Bridegroom  cometh  !' 
were  to  be  sounded  now,  and  I  could  go  up,  with 
Mary  and  our  babes,  to  meet  my  Lord  in  the  air, 
I  should  rejoice  'with  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of 
glory/  " 

As  he  spoke,  the  colour  flushed  over  his  cheek,  and 
his  deep,  spiritual  eye,  upraised  to  heaven,  seemed  to 
drink  in  fresh  lustre  from  the  Source  of  light.  For  a 
while  he  appeared  to  be  unconscious  of  earthly  com- 
panionship, in  his  fellowship  of  soul  with  his  Lord  and 


280  THE  LAST  SLEEP. 

Saviour.  Like  the  saintly  Eutlierford,  he  seemed  to  say, 
"  I  only  ask  now  a  further  revelation  of  the  beauty  of  the 
unseen  Son  of  God."  With  the  prophet,  he  could  sny, 
in  faith,  Mine  "eyes  shall  see  the  King  in  his  beauty." 

After  a  time,  he  turned  to  me,  and  said,  "  I  want  to 
speak  of  my  mother,  to  one  whom  she  would  bless  out 
of  her  holy  heaven,  for  having  so  truly  and  tenderly 
represented  her  on  earth  to  me,  for  five  years."  He 
then  told  me  what  she  was  to  him  in  his  childhood, 
and  the  history  of  their  last  interview,  in  minute 
detail.  "I  loved  her  as  an  angel  of  God,"  he  said,  "  and 
1  love  her  still,  as  entirely  and  devotedly  as  I  did  the 
day  of  her  death.  I  have  never  ceased  to  miss  her,  and 
to  mourn  her." 

After  this,  he  spoke  of  the  meeting  before  us  all — 
which  he  believed  to  be  drawing  very  near — the  meet- 
ing in  the  air — to  go  in  together  to  "  the  marriage- 
supper  of  the  Lamb."  Not  the  faintest  doubt  of 
mutual  recognition  there,  crossed  his  mind.  He  spoke 
of  those  gone  before,  whom  he  had  known  and  loved, 
as  waiting  to  welcome  him  into  Paradise.  "  I  should 
not  be  surprised  if  'Faithful' — that  is  Hedley,  you 
know — would  be  one  of  those  who  will  come  to  meet 
'  Hopeful '  as  he  crosses  Jordan/'  said  he,  alluding  to  a 
former  half-playful  comparison  of  Captain  Vicars  and 
himself  to  those  beloved  companions  of  Christian,  in  the 
"  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  on  his  way  to  the  Celestial  City. 


THE  LAST  SLEEP.  281 

I  could  but  rejoin  in  Christian's  words,  "  You  have 
been  Hopeful  ever  since  I  knew  you." 

"  There  is  no  such  thing  as  death  for  a  man  who 
believes  in  the  Saviour,"  he  added.  "  He  cannot  die. 
He  is  in  '  the  Life,'  for  he  is  in  Jesus;  and  thus  he  is 
a  part  of  Life  Eternal/' 

Whilst  thus  speaking,  his  brother-in-law,  Mr  Charles 
Molony,  arrived  from  Woolwich ;  and  I  left  them 
alone  together  for  a  few  minutes;  thankful  for  the 
opportunity  of  withdrawing  to  bless  God  for  having 
permitted  me  to  hear,  from  this  beloved  friend,  so 
glorious  a  confession  of  faith. 

During  the  following  day,  he  had  further  conversa- 
tion with  Mr  Chalmers,  whom  his  eyes  often  followed 
with  a  wistful  look  when  he  was  called  from  the  room 
by  parish  duties  ;  and  he  liked  to  have  his  chair  placed, 
in  the  evening,  where  he  could  best  see  my  father's 
serene  and  beautiful  countenance.  "  I  cannot  make 
my  voice  heard  through  his  trumpet  now,"  he  said  to 
me,  rather  sadly ;  then  brightening  again  immediately, 
"  but  we  shall  have  plenty  of  time  for  talking  together, 
when  we  meet  in  the  everlasting  Home." 

Interested,  to  the  last,  for  the  welfare  of  the  soldier, 
he  collected  donations  on  that  day,  as  on  several  pre- 
vious days,  for  the  Soldiers'  Institute  at  Woolwich ; 
and  he  carried  back  thither  the  sum  of  £30,  to  keep 
it  going.  Eegarding  it  as  a  great  benefit  for  the 


282  THE  LAST  SLEEP. 

men,  he  was  most  anxious  that  the  Institute  should 
be  placed  upon  a  permanent  foundation. 

In  the  night-time,  latterly,  he  frequently  prayed  in 
his  broken  sleep.  He  awoke  very  early ;  and  if  his  ten- 
der and  devoted  wife — herself  looking  scarcely  less  fra- 
gile than  he — who  watched  him  unweariedly  througli 
his  wakeful  hours,  had  closed  her  eyes  for  brief  repose 
after  seeing  him  fall  asleep,  he  would  quietly  rise  to 
light  the  fire,  rather  than  disturb  her  whom  he  so 
anxiously  cared  for,  and  so  deeply  loved  ;  or  even  than 
ring,  at  that  early  hour,  for  the  aid  of  a  servant. 

He  dreaded  giving  the  least  trouble.  But  the  last 
night  or  two,  from  extreme  weakness  and  breathless- 
ness,  he  submitted  to  being  assisted  to  his  room  by  a 
dear  young  friend — himself  a  soldier — then  staying 
with  us,  to  whom  Arthur's  heart  had  warmed  from  their 
first  interview  ;  and  by  a  faithful  servant  of  Mr  Chal- 
mers, who  had  loved  him  with  no  common  love.  But 
readily  and  tenderly  as  this  little  service  was  performed, 
and  much  as  he  prized  the  love  which  rendered  it,  it 
was  an  evident  pain  to  him  to  be  obliged  to  avail  him- 
self of  it. 

On  Friday,  he  said  to  me,  "I  should  like  to  go 
to  Heaven  straight  from  this  dear  home.  But  whilst 
your  beloved  sister  and  niece  are  so  ill,  I  feel  it  is 
wrong  to  add  a  third  invalid  to  the  house.  I  mean 
to  go  back  to  Woolwich  to-day,  to  see  my  little  chil- 
dren ;  and  then  Mary  and  I  will  come  again,  in  a  few 


THE  LAST  SLEEP.  283 

days,  and  stay  to  the  end.  And  the  end  will  be  the 
beginning  of  glory." 

He  hoped,  then,  that  he  should  return.  But  I  do 
not  think  that  he  believed  it,  a  few  hours  later,  when 
he  parted  from  us.  My  sister,  who  had  been  suffering 
from  an  attack  of  bronchitis,  had  rjsen  that  afternoon 
for  the  sake  of  getting  a  last  glimpse  of  one  who  was 
so  dear  to  her,  and  to  us  all  When  he  looked  up,  and 
saw  her  sorrowful  face  watching  him  from  the  gallery 
as  he  crossed  the  hall,  the  tender  solemnity  of  a  last 
farewell  overspread  his  countenance ;  and  as  he  entered 
the  carriage,  he  hid  his  face,  in  a  sudden  burst  of 
tears. 

The  next  day,  he  began  to  complain  of  great  pain  in 
his  throat,  and  seemed  weaker,  and  less  able  to  exert 
himself.  In  the  evening  he  said,  "  What  a  blessing, 
my  Mary,  that  I  have  not  now  to  seek  Jesus  !  " 

On  Sunday,  he  rallied  considerably,  and  was  again 
able  to  converse,  fully  and  clearly.  In  the  course  of 
the  morning,  he  spoke  to  his  Avife  of  his  approaching 
death,  and  then  said  to  her,  "Come  and  bit  by  my 
side,  and  speak  to  me  about  it.  I  shall  realise  it  if 
you  talk  of  it;  I  do  not,  when  others  allude  to  it." 
She  drew  a  low  chair  to  his  side,  and  sat  by  him, 
calmly  speaking  of  that  which  was  to  bring  her  own 
deepest  sorrow.  He  said,  "It  is  a  solemn  thing  to 
appear  before  the  King  of  kings — the  Holy  God  ;  but 
I  have  no  fear;"  and  then  expressed  his  perfect  trust, 


284  THE  LAST  SLEEP. 

and  peace,  and  joy  in  Jesus,  as  his  own  and  all-suffi- 
cient Saviour. 

That  afternoon,  his  beloved  brother,  Captain  Trevor 
Molony,  read  a  sermon  to  him,  which  he  much  enjoyed, 
on  his  favourite  words,  "  CHRIST  is  ALL." 

Soon  afterwards,  his  kind  friend,  Colonel  Tulloh, 
who  had  shewn  him  the  truest  sympathy  throughout 
his  illness,  and  his  dear  friends,  Captain  Bruce  and 
Captain  Hutchinson,  called  to  inquire  after  him.  He 
was  able  to  see  Colonel  Tulloh  and  Captain  Bruce, 
who  came  the  earliest ;  and  they  found  that  he  was 
quite  cheerful  in  manner  and  conversation. 

On  Tuesday,  the  5th  of  June,  his  sister,  Mrs  Car- 
den,  arrived.  She  found  that,  for  the  first  time,  he 
had  felt  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from  his  bed.  On 
perceiving  the  great  change  in  him,  she  could  not 
restrain  her  tears.  He  raised  his  eyes,  so  full  of  the 
peace  of  Jesus,  and  said,  with  the  most  earnest  ten- 
derness, "0  Louie,  don't  cry  for  me.  I  am  going 
home.  I  have  long  known  that  in  my  Father's  house 
there  is  a  place  prepared  for  me.  I  know  it — I  am 
sure  of  it.  Do  you  know,  dearest  sister,  that  there  is 
a  place  prepared  for  you?  If  you  do  not  certainly 
know  it,  never  rest,  never  cease  to  agonize  in  prayer 
till  the  assurance  is  given  you." 

In  the  afternoon,  he  seemed  tolerably  easy,  and  was 
very  animated.  Captain  Molony,  whose  presence  and 
sympathy  were  amongst  the  chief  comforts  of  his  long 


THE  LAST  SLEEP.  285 

illness,  was  sitting  by  his  side,  and  then  Arthur  asked 
for  something  pleasant  to  be  read  to  him ;  and  smiling 
at  his  wife,  added,  " I  wish  to  be  amused,  Mary!" 

In  the  evening  he  was  much  exhausted,  and  spoke 
very  little.  But  twice  he  was  heard  to  repeat  the 
words,  "  JESUS  ONLY" — as  if  all  other  lights  were 
paling  before  the  everlasting  day,  just  dawning  for 
him,  when  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  should  arise  and 
shed  its  glories  upon  his  soul  for  ever,  without  a  cloud 
between. 

About  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  he  asked  his  wife  to 
read  to  him  the  19th  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  St  Luke; 
which  he  seemed  greatly  to  enjoy,  making  remarks 
upon  some  of  the  verses. 

At  one  o'clock,  the  lonely  watcher  by  his  side, 
scarcely  able  to  see  him  in  the  shaded  light,  knew  by 
his  gentle  breathing  that  he  had  fallen  asleep ;  and  he 
seemed  to  sleep  so  peacefully,  that  she  began  to  have  a 
trembling  hope  that  he  might  awake  refreshed  and 
better. 

But  that  quiet  sleeper  awoke  not.  As  the  sun  arose 
that  morning,  it  shone  upon  the  face  of  the  dead. 
Without  one  pang  of  parting,  his  mortal  life  had  been 
exchanged  for  Immortality.  He  had  fallen  asleep  in 
Jesus, — "  the  Life  of  them  that  believe,  and  the  Resur- 
rection of  the  dead." 


286  THE  LAST  SLEEP. 

So,  when  the  Christian's  eyelid  droops  and  closes, 

In  nature's  parting  strife, 
A  friendly  angel  stands  where  he  reposes, 

To  take  him  up  to  life. 

He  gives  a  gentle  blow,  and  so  releases 

The  spirit  from  its  clay ; 
From  sins,  temptations,  and  from  life's  distressed, 

He  bids  it  "  Come  away." 

It  rises  up,  and  from  its  darksome  mansion 

It  takes  its  silent  flight, 
And  feels  its  freedom  in  the  large  expansion 

Of  Heavenly  Light. 

Behind  !  it  hears  Time's  iron  gates  close  faintly  | 

It  is  now  far  from  them, 
For  it  has  reach'd  the  city  of  the  saintly — 

"  The  New  Jerusalem." 

The  voice  is  heard  on  earth  of  kinsfolk  weeping 

The  loss  of  one  they  love ; 
But  he  is  gone  where  the  redeem'd  are  keeping 

"  A  Festival  of  Love." 

The  mourners  throng  the  ways,  and  from  the  steeple 

The  funeral  bell  tolls  slow ; 
But  on  the  golden  streets  the  holy  people 

Are  passing  to  and  fro  ; 

And  saying  as  they  meet,  "Rejoice  !  another 

Long  waited  for  is  come  !  " 
The  Saviour's  heart  is  glad ;  a  younger  brother 

Hath  reach'd  the  Father's  Home. 


THE  CAMERA; 


OB, 


THE  BELIEVER  CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE 
HIS  SAVIOUK,« 


"  But  we  all,  with  open  face  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the  glory  of  tha 
Lord,  are  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  even 
as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord."  —  2  COB.  iii.  18. 


of  the  most  striking  features  in  those  discourses  of  our" 
blessed  Lord,  to  the  multitudes  who  flocked  to  listen  to  the 
gracious  words  that  proceeded  out  of  His  mouth,  of  which 
short  summaries  are  handed  down  to  us  in  the  Gospels,  is 
the  elegant  simplicity  of  the  language  He  invariably  em- 
ployed. 

He  well  knew,  not  only  the  exact  circumstances  of  every 
soul  that  heard  Him,  but  also  the  power  of  mind,  the  grasp 
of  memory,  and  the  amount  of  education,  possessed  by  each 
individual.  This  He  knew  when  Pharisees  and  doctors  of  the 
law  sat  by,  and  when  even  the  highest  iu  the  land  listened 
to  Him  gladly.  How  eloquent,  pointed,  and  appropriate  was 

*  This  address  was  found,  with  many  others  of  the  same  kind,  among 
the  papers  of  Major  Vandeleur,  and  is  printed  as  a  specimen  of  tho 
lectures  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  delivering  to  the  soldiers  at 
\VooIwich. 

T 


290  THE  CAMERA  ;   OR,  THE  BELIEVER 

His  language  on  such  occasions  !  yet  how  simple  —  how 
easy  to  be  understood  !  And  the  reason  of  this  is  obvi- 
ous. The  great  majority  of  His  hearers  were  the  ignorant, 
uneducated,  uncared-for  poor  ;  and  He  who  was  anointed  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  took  good  care  to  convey  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  their  minds  in  language  so  simple 
and  beautiful,  as  could  not  possibly  be  misunderstood  by  the 
weakest  mind  among  them  desirous  of  being  taught. 

It  is  well  known  that  every  truth  which  weak  minds  can 
comprehend  is  perfectly  intelligible  to  those  of  greater 
power.  In  speaking,  then,  to  the  uninformed  and  illite- 
rate, in  language  suited  to  their  capacities,  not  only  did 
our  Lord  convey  His  meaning  to  all  the  rest  of  His  audience ; 
but,  with  that  infinite  wisdom  which  pertains  to  the  great 
Creator  of  all  things,  He  considered  the  wants  and  capabili- 
ties of  generations  to  come  throughout  the  whole  world  ;  and, 
looking  forward  to  the  time  when  the  gracious  words  which 
proceeded  out  of  His  mouth  should  be  translated  into  the 
languages  of  heathen  and  savage  as  well  as  of  civilised 
nations,  He  made  use  of  such  symbols  and  illustrations  as 
are  well  known  and  familiar  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  as 
well  as  to  the  Jews.  And  then,  having  fixed  the  minds  of  His 
hearers  on  the  material  scene,  (probably  in  many  cases  exist- 
ing, or  being  enacted  before  their  eyes,)  He  made  use  of  their 
natural  senses  for  impressing  on  their  memories  the  import- 
ant spiritual  truths  which  He  designed  to  teach  them,  it  was 
thus  that  lie  turned  the  daily  and  ordinary  occurrences  of  life 
into  spiritual  food  for  famishing  souls.  It  is  probable  that, 
while  the  parable  of  the  sower  fell  from  His  lips,  the  eyes 
of  the  multitude  frequently  changed  from  the  person  of  our 
blessed  Lord  himself  to  the  figure  of  the  husbandman  pur- 
suing his  work  in  the  distance. 

It  is  probable  also,  that  the  parables  of  the  vine  and  its 
branches,  the  sheepfold,  the  householder  hiring  labourers  in 
the  market-place,  and  most  of  His  other  parables,  were  either 
suggested  by  the  circumstances  of  the  moment,  or  that  He 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR     291 

waited  for  an  opportune  instant,  not  only  to  point  out  the 
close  connexion  between  natural  and  revealed  religion,  but 
also  to  fix  their  attention  powerfully  on  the  great  truths 
which  formed  the  subject  of  His  discourse,  by  making  their 
outward  senses  contribute  to  the  development  of  the  correct 
klea  in  their  minds,  instead  of  (as  is  too  often  the  case 
amongst  ourselves)  having  quite  the  contrary  effect.  And 
further,  He  might  intend  that  whenever  a  similar  scene,  un- 
der similar  circumstances,  was  presented  to  their  view,  it 
should  recall  His  weighty  and  solemn  words,  and  so  cause 
them  to  be  stored  up  in  their  memories  and  bring  forth  fruit 
unto  life  eternal. 

Though  these  discourses  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  are  the 
most  striking  and  forcible  examples  extant  of  this  mode  of 
teaching,  still  it  was  not  altogether  new  to  His  Jewish 
hearers, — the  same  Divine  Spirit  which  spake  in  Him  having 
dictated  a  similar  mode  of  expression  to  the  prophets  and 
fathers  of  old.  Moses,  David,  Isaiah,  and  Jeremiah,  all  made 
use  of  material  symbols  to  convey  their  meaning  ;  and  David, 
in  some  of  the  most  beautiful  of  his  psalms,  only  turns  to 
spiritual  profit  an  event  of  every-day  life.  I  need  only  refer, 
for  illustration,  to  the  23rd  and  42nd  Psalms,  where,  in  the 
one  case,  a  shepherd  leading  his  flock,  and  in  the  other,  a 
tired  hart  panting  after  the  water-brook,  suggest  a  series  of 
meditations  delightful  to  read,  but  still  more  delightful  to 
experience. 

In  our  own  day,  too,  the  best  and  most  successful  writers 
depend  much  upon  similitudes,  in  working  out  their  happiest 
ideas.  "Wilberforce,  in  his  "  Practical  View,"  when  wishing  to 
express  his  conviction  of  the  necessity  of  minds  of  great 
power  submitting  implicitly  to  the  declarations  of  the  in- 
spired Word  of  God,  compares  the  Bible  to  the  grass  of 
the  field.  As  the  latter  is  food  alike  for  the  greatest  as 
well  as  the  least  animal  in  creation,  so  is  the  Bible  for  the 
greatest  as  well  as  for  the  weakest  mind.  But  the  grass  is 
food  for  large  animals  only  on  condition  that  they  bow  the 


292  THE  CAMEKA  ;   OR,  THE  BELIEVER 

head;  and,  by  analogy,  he  argues  that  the  mightiest  intellect 
should  receive  unhesitatingly  as  truth  whatever  God  declares, 
though  beyond  its  power  to  comprehend.  I  will  mention 
only  one  other  instance.  When  anxious  to  express  the  awful 
facility  with  which  the  remembrance  of  the  uncertainty  of 
life  passes  from  the  mind,  one  of  our  most  terse  and  power- 
ful poets,  Dr  Young,  uses  these  expressions  : — 

"  As  from  the  wing  no  scar  the  sky  retains, 
The  parted  wave  no  furrow  from  the  keel, 
So  dies  in  human  hearts  the  thought  of  death." 

In  accordance,  therefore,  with  our  blessed  Master's  mode 
of  argument,  I  propose  to  draw  your  attention  to  some  im- 
portant truths,  through  the  medium  of  a  similitude. 

Among  the  recent  discoveries  of  science,  there  is  none 
which  has  made  such  rapid  progress  towards  perfection,  or 
contributed  so  powerfully  to  the  social  comfort  and  happiness 
of  millions,  as  the  art  of  photography. 

Eut  few  years  have  elapsed  since  Daguerre  discovered  that 
certain  substances,  such  as  the  iodide  of  silver,  are  so  sensi- 
tive to  light  as  to  be  influenced  by,  and  permanently  to  retain, 
the  pictures  presented  to  them  in  the  camera  obscura.  The 
subject  was  at  once  seen  to  be  of  such  vast  importance  as  to 
induce  the  ablest  chemists  of  both  Europe  and  America  to 
turn  their  attention  to  it.  Their  patient  investigations  and 
reasonings  have  been  followed  by,  if  not  complete,  still  at 
least  very  great  success.  Many  knoivn  substances  have  been 
ascertained  to  be  of  great  value  to  the  art,  and  others,  pre- 
viously unknown,  have  sprung  into  permanent  existence.  The 
operations  or  manipulations  of  the  art  are  so  simple,  that 
success  is  sure  to  attend  the  steps  of  the  patient,  persevering 
artist, — a  rigid  attention  to  the  rules  and  formulas  laid  down, 
and  a  certain  amount  of  manual  dexterity,  being  all  that  is 
required.  It  is  these  circumstances,  combined  with  the 
rapidity  of  the  operation,  which  has  placed  photographic 
pictures  within  reach  of  the  humblest  in  the  land ;  and  it  is 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR.     293 

their  extraordinary  faithfulness  and  truth  which  makes  them 
such  favourites  with  all  classes. 

We  may  well  ask,  "  From  whence  do  these  characteristics 
come  ?"  Chiefly  because  the  result  is  so  much  the  work  of 
nature,  so  little  that  of  man;  for  man  merely  places  the  sub- 
stances, of  which  he  has  discovered  some  properties,  in  cir- 
cumstances favourable  for  the  development  of  those  properties, 
and  leaves  the  rest  to  nature,  or  to  nature's  God.  In  this 
respect  it  somewhat  resembles  the  seed  sown  in  the  earth. 
If  we  take  seed  of  any  description,  and  sow  it  at  the  proper 
season  in  soil  suited  to  it,  manure,  watch,  and  weed  it ;  in  due 
course  of  time — nature  being  left  to  follow  its  inviolable  laws 
in  the  interval — we  reap  the  fruit  of  our  labours.  In  this  case, 
man  might  as  properly  claim  to  himself  the  credit  of  having 
produced  several  ears  of  corn  from  a  single  grain,  as  imagine 
that  the  wonderful  truthfulness,  minuteness,  and  beauty  of 
the  photograph,  resulting  from  his  work,  is  due  to  his  skil- 
ful manipulation.  No  ;  it  is  God's  work.  He  merely  makes 
use  of  man  as  an  instrument,  and  to  Him  we  should  invari- 
ably give  the  praise.  It  is  thus  that  the  Almighty  works  in 
everything  that  man  does.  While  we  lay  out  plans  for  our 
own  action,  whether  individual  or  social,  God  is  the  great 
guiding  Spirit ;  and  whether  we  succeed  or  fail  in  accomplish- 
ing that  which  we  proposed  to  effect,  everything  that  we  have 
done  is  made  use  of  by  Infinite  Wisdom  and  Power  for  the 
furtherance  of  His  own  great  plans  of  love  and  mercy.  In 
fact,  every  great  mental  and  social  stride  which  man  has 
accomplished  in  the  progress  of  the  world  towards  civilisa- 
tion, has  also  been  a  step  in  furtherance  of  Christianity. 

The  art  of  printing  is  a  remarkable  proof  of  the  truth  of 
this  position.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  discovered  by 
Lawrence  Costa  about  the  year  1442,  and  was  introduced  by 
Caxton  into  England  about  1471.  From  this  period  till  the 
commencement  of  the  Reformation  in  Germany,  by  the  post- 
ing of  Luther's  ninety-five  theses  on  the  walls  of  Wittenburg 
in  1517,  was  only  forty-six  years.  This  period  we  may  easily 


294  THE  CAMERA  ;   OR,  THE  BELIEVER 

suppose  to  have  been  just  sufficient  to  bring  the  art  to  a  for- 
ward state  ;  and  when  thus  perfect  and  ready  for  its  work,  it 
was  made  use  of  by  Infinite  Wisdom  to  multiply  immensely 
the  number  of  copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  world, 
and  thus  defeat  the  designs  of  Satan,  and  push  forward  the 
great  work  of  Reformation  in  the  Church.  A  moment's 
reflection  would  suffice  to  convince  us  that  the  discovery  of 
the  mariner's  compass,  the  art  of  navigation,  and  the  power  of 
steam,  have  all  tended  remarkably  to  forward  what  we  know 
to  be  the  grand  design  of  Jehovah,  the  infinite  God,  in  His 
management  of  the  world  as  it  exists  at  present, — viz.,  the 
salvation  of  sinful  man  by  the  death  of  His  Son  ;  and  to  this 
end  the  sciences  of  astronomy,  chemistry,  and  geology,  have 
all  given  most  valuable  aid ;  whether  we  regard  them  as 
exposing  the  false  theories  and  dreadful  delusions  of  all  false 
religions,  or  as  confirming  and  illustrating,  directly  and  indi- 
rectly, the  infallible  statements  of  Holy  Writ. 

Thus,  for  instance,  astronomy  exalts  and  enlarges  our  ideas 
of  the  power  and  glory  of  the  Triune  Jehovah,  by  proving 
that  this  world,  so  stupendous  to  our  eyes,  is  but  a  little 
speck  in  comparison  with  the  millions  of  suns  and  worlds 
which  He  has  created  by  His  Word,  and  preserves  for  ever  in 
their  station  and  circuit  in  accordance  with  His  will. 

Chemistry  reveals  to  us  many  of  the  hidden  wonders  of  the 
material  world,  explains  to  us  the  reasons  and  objects  of  the 
marvellous  changes  that  are  incessantly  going  on  around  us,  and 
shews  how  God,  with  smallest  means,  effects  the  noblest  ends. 

Geology,  searching  out  the  inmost  recesses  and  depths  of 
the  globe  we  inhabit,  points  out  the  order,  design,  and  system 
which  prevail  there  ;  confirms  most  strikingly  the  Mosaic 
account  of  the  formation  and  arrangement  of  the  present 
order  of  things  above,  around,  below  us  ;  and  lends  its  power- 
ful aid  in  corroboration  of  the  statements  of  our  blessed  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  well  as  of  St  Peter,  and  others  of  the  sacred 
writers,  who  have  foretold  that  it  shall  surely  come  to  pass 
"  that  the  heavens,  being  on  fire,  shall  be  dissolved,  and  tho 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR     29-3 

elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  also,  and  the 
things  that  are  therein,  shall  be  burnt  up."  It  shews  how 
easily,  by  means  of  agencies  now  in  active  operation  within  the 
earth's  crust,  merely  by  a  sudden  increase  of  that  activity,  all 
these  prophecies  may — how  much  in  accordance  with  former 
occurrences  on  our  globe  it  is  that  they  should — how  prob- 
able it  is  that  they  WILL — be  performed  !  And,  by  pointing 
out  the  tremendous  and  heart-appalling  character  which 
this  event  will  assuredly  assume,  it  speaks  most  strongly  to 
each  soul.  Oh  that  we  may  all  listen  to  its  voice !  Flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come, — close  with  the  easy  terms  which 
God  offers, — "  escape  for  thy  life," — "  escape  to  the  moun- 
tain," the  sinner's  only  refuge,  Jesus  Christ, — "  lest  thou  ba 
consumed." 

As  yet,  the  art  of  photography  can  hardly  be  considered 
to  have  contributed  to  the  progress  of  the  gospel.  But  we 
cannot  doubt,  judging  from  analogy,  that  God  will,  in  His 
own  good  time  and  way,  cause  an  art  which  is  already  prac- 
tised in  every  country  of  the  world,  and  will  soon  be  univer- 
sally known,  to  lend  its  powerful  aid  to  urge  forward  the 
cause  of  Christianity  and  peace.  The  way  in  which  it  may 
please  Almighty  God  to  do  this,  I  pretend  not  to  explain,  or 
even  to  conjecture. 

The  use  I  propose  to  make  of  photography  to-day,  is  to 
furnish  a  symbol  or  series  of  comparisons  between  the  manip- 
ulations of  the  art  and  the  operations  of  God's  grace  in  the 
soul  of  a  sinner,  in  bringing  him  to  a  knowledge  of  the  work 
of  Christ  for  him,  and  making  him  fit  and  meet  to  be  a  par- 
taker of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light. 

And  may  the  Holy  Spirit  of  our  God  deign  graciously  to 
bless  the  words  which  shall  be  spoken,  and  so  to  impress 
upon  the  souls  of  all  who  hear,  the  absolute  necessity  of  the 
new  birth,  as  regards  themselves,  while  yet  there  is  time,  that 
in  the  day  of  Christ's  appearing  to  judge  the  world,  you  may 
every  one  of  you  be  found  among  the  number  of  those  who, 
being  clad  in  the  spotless  robe  of  Christ's  righteousness,  and 


296  THE  CAMERA  ;    OR,  THE  BELIEVER 

having  on  the  wedding  garment,  shall  be  counted  worthy  to 
enter  in  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb  ! 

It  is  desirable  that  I  should  first  describe,  in  as  general 
terms  as  possible,  the  ordinary  mode  of  manipulation  in  use 
among  photographers,  in  order  that  the  similitude  which 
I  shall  subsequently  draw  may  be  thoroughly  understood. 

There  are  two  processes  which  produce  strikingly  success- 
ful results.  In  the  first,  that  of  the  daguerreotype,  the  sen- 
sitive surface  which  is  to  receive  the  picture  is  formed  on 
a  metal  plate,  generally  copper,  coated  with  silver ;  in  the 
other,  it  is  formed  on  a  thin  layer  of  a  substance  called  "  col- 
lodion," stretched  on  a  glass  plate.  The  latter  is  the  cheaper 
and  more  ordinary  mode,  and  I  propose  to  allude  to  it  alone. 

The  camera,  or  instrument  in  which  the  pictures  are  taken, 
is,  as  most  of  you  are  aware,  a  box,  nearly  square,  and  stained 
black  on  the  inside.  The  lens,  or  glass  through  which  the 
image  is  transmitted,  is  fixed  at  one  end  of  this  box,  and  in  a 
brass  cylinder.  The  frame,  containing  the  sensitive  plate,  is, 
when  the  plate  is  ready,  placed  in  this  box  opposite  to  the 
lens.  When  the  slide  is  in  its  place,  and  the  lens  is  covered, 
the  inside  is  perfectly  dark.  On  the  cover  of  the  lens  being 
removed,  light  enters,  and  only  through  this  medium.  The 
construction  of  this  glass  lens  is  such,  that  the  rays  of  light 
which  enter  are  those  only  which  are  reflected  from  the  object 
placed  opposite  at  suitable  distance  ;  these  rays,  falling  upon 
the  sensitive  plate,  there  form  a  picture  of  that  object  exactly 
as  it  exists.  Some  parts  are  light,  others  of  a  medium  shade, 
and  others  again  quite  dark ;  and  the  plate  being  affected  by 
the  light  in  exact  proportion  to  its  intensity,  it  follows  that 
the  picture  will  exhibit  corresponding  degrees  of  light  and 
shade. 

The  mode  of  preparing  the  plate  to  receive  the  impression 
is  as  follows  : — 

After  being  thoroughly  cleaned,  some  collodion  is  poured 
over  the  surface,  and  the  surplus  drained  off.  The  volatile 
liquid  part  having  evaporated,  which  it  does  almost  irnmedi- 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR.     297 

ately,  it  is  then  placed  in  the  sensitising  bath  ;  after  remain- 
ing there  a  few  minutes,  it  is  transferred  to  the  frame,  and 
carried  to  its  position  in  the  camera,  which  has  previously 
been  directed  and  focussed  on  the  object  to  be  taken. 

An  exposure  of  a  few  seconds  or  minutes  is  sufficient  to 
effect  the  required  change.  The  frame  and  plate  are  then 
returned  to  the  developiug-room ;  and  when  first  taken  out 
of  the  frame,  hot  the  slightest  vestige  of  a  change  can  be  dis- 
covered on  the  surface  of  the  plate. 

The  application  of  the  developing  solution  produces  a  speedy 
change,  and  resemblance  to  the  object  taken  may  at  once  be 
traced  ;  the  resemblance  becomes  more  and  more  decided,  till 
the  operation  has  been  carried  on  to  the  proper  point.  This 
liquid  is  then  washed  off,  and  another  applied,  the  effect  of 
which,  though  quite  dissimilar  to  that  previously  used,  is  es- 
sential to  the  perfection  of  the  picture.  It  removes  all  the 
parts  of  the  opaque  film  which  have  not  been  affected  by  the 
light,  and  which  now  tend  only  to  obscure  the  image.  It  is 
called  the  fixing  solution,  and  when  the  surplus  of  this  has 
been  removed,  the  picture  is  completed. 

The  resemblance  between  these  details,  and  the  work  of  grace 
in  the  soul,  may  not  at  first  sight  appear  obvious  ;  but  a  little 
reflection  will  enable  us  to  discover  many  and  beautiful  points 
of  similarity.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  plate,  covered 
with  its  collodion  film,  was  at  first  perfectly  insensible  to  the 
strongest  light.  It  required  a  certain  definite  operation  to 
be  performed,  and  when  that  had  been  effected  it  became  sen- 
sitive to  the  faintest  ray.  The  condition  of  the  plate,  previous 
to  this  operation,  fitly  illustrates  the  condition  of  man  by 
nature.  The  gospel  may  have  been  proclaimed  in  his  hearing 
a  thousand  times  ;  he  may  have  been  a  regular  attendant  on 
divine  ordinances  ;  may  never  have  bf^n  absent  from  his  seat 
in  the  house  of  God  ;  may  have  much  head-knowledge  of  the 
truth ;  may  be  strictly  correct  in  his  moral  conduct,  and  a 
highly  esteemed  member  of  society, — and  yet  all  this  time  he 
may  remain  ignorant  of  Christ,  be  living  without  God  in  the 


298  THE  CAMERA  ;  OR,  THE  BELIEVER 

world,  a  child  of  wrath,  and  in  danger  of  eternal  damnation. 
Why  is  this  ?  Because  his  heart  has  never  been  touched,  never 
been  "  sensitised"  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  But  when  this  has  been 
done — mark,  what  a  change  !  The  man  now  sees  things  in  a 
new  light,  discovers  how  severe  are  the  requirements  of  God's 
law — how  utterly  hopeless  it  is  for  him  ever,  by  any  amount 
of  self-denial  or  other  works,  to  work  out  his  own  salvation. 
He  now  sees  that  having  once  failed  (though  it  were  but  for 
a  moment)  to  keep  the  first  commandment  in  all  its  integrity, 
which  commands  him  "  to  love  the  Lord  his  God  with  all  his 
heart,  and  with  all  his  soul,  and  with  all  his  mind,"  (Matt. 
xxii.  37,)  "  he  is  guilty  of  all."  A  moment's  recollection  serves 
to  convince  him  that  he  has  failed  in  this,  not  only  for  a  single 
moment,  but  for  whole  days  and  even  years  of  his  life.  He 
must  then  look  out  of  himself  for  salvation — and  where  shall 
lie  turn  to  ?  No  mere  mortal  can  save  him,  for  God,  he 
knows,  has  said  that  "  none  of  them  can  by  any  means  redeem 
his  brother,  nor  give  to  God  a  ransom  for  him,"  (Ps.  xlix.  7 ;) 
and  finding  at  last  that  there  is  no  hope  for  him  but  in  Christ, 
and  being  now  most  anxious  to  obtain  eternal  life,  he  flees  at 
once  to  Christ,  casts  himself  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  on 
his  knees,  in  secret,  implores  the  pardon  of  his  sins  that  are 
past  ;  he  desires  to  be  made  a  child  of  God,  and  begs  for  the 
gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  enable  him  to  lead  a  new  life. 

This  brings  us  to  the  second  point  of  the  simile.  The  plate 
during  the  process  of  sensitising,  and  while  the  picture  is 
being  impressed  upon  it  in  the  camera,  as  well  as  during  the 
time  of  developing  and  fixing,  has  carefully  to  be  shielded 
from  light  and  external  influences  ;  in  fact,  all  the  various 
operations,  from  the  commencement  of  the  picture  to  its 
completion,  have  to  be  performed  in  the  dark  room,  and  in 
the  dark  camera.  May  not  this  suggest  to  us  the  Christianas 
closet — his  place  of  prayer — where,  alone  with  God,  he  pours 
out  his  inmost  thoughts,  confesses  his  sins,  and  implores 
forgiveness  ?  Here,  too,  it  is  that  God  makes  known  His 
will  to  His  child,  reveals  Christ  to  his  soul  in  all  the  ful- 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR.     299 

ness  of  His  infinite  love,  imparts  fresh  supplies  of  grace,  and 
strengthens  his  heart  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith  against 
his  powerful  spiritual  enemies.  In  fact,  the  Christian's  closet 
may  be  considered  as  the  workshop  of  the  Almighty,  where 
He  prepares  His  servant  to  work  for  Him  here  below,  and  fits 
him  for  heaven  hereafter. 

My  dear  friends,  when  speaking  upon  this  subject,  I  cannot 
forbear  urging  upon  your  most  serious  and  earnest  considera- 
tion the  importance  and  necessity  of  prayer.  It  is  not  that  I 
would  for  one  moment  underrate  the  value  of  other  Christian 
duties  and  observances.  God  forbid  !  But  that  I  would  now 
wish  to  raise  in  your  estimation,  and  fix  in  your  memories, 
the  obligation  and  privilege  of  prayer.  It  is  a  sure  sign  of 
spiritual  life.  Does  any  soul  that  listens  to  me,  know  in  him- 
self that  he  is  constantly  at  the  throne  of  grace,  and  that  his 
supplications  there,  offered  up  in  his  Saviour's  name,  are 
humble  and  earnest  ?  Let  him  take  comfort.  His  feet  are 
surely  on  the  Rock  of  Ages,  and  though  perhaps  now  cast 
down  and  ready  to  despair,  let  him  continue  as  he  has  begun. 
The  Lord  Jehovah  will  perfect  that  which  concerneth  him, 
He  will  never  forsake  the  work  of  His  own  hands. 

On  the  other  hand, — does  any  one,  who  has  seemed  to  be  a 
believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  feel  within  himself  that  he  is  dif- 
ferent from  what  he  was  ;  that  now  his  prayers  are  less  fre- 
quent and  shorter  than  they  used  to  be  ;  that  he  does  not  take 
so  much  delight  as  he  once  did  in  bending  before  the  throne 
of  grace  ;  that  his  prayers  are  more  formal  and  less  earnest  ? 
Oh,  my  brother,  or  sister,  beware,  I  beseech  you.  Satan  is 
desirous  of  having  you,  that  he  may  sift  you  as  wheat.  He 
has  taken  new  and  firmer  hold  on  your  heart.  He  has 
wounded  you  grievously  in  a  vital  point.  Let  me  exhort  you, 
again,  instantly  to  return  unto  the  Lord.  Confess  your  wan- 
dering ;  repent  and  do  your  first  works,  lest  your  candlestick 
be  removed  out  of  its  place,  and  you  perish  for  ever.  "  Re- 
turn unto  the  Lord,  and  He  will  have  mercy  upon  you  ;  and 
to  your  God,  for  He  will  abundantly  pardon." 


300  THE  CAMERA  ;   OK,  THE  BELIEVER 

In  truth,  dear  friends,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me,  or 
any  other  mortal,  to  overrate  the  value  and  importance  of 
prayer.  It  is  not  only  a  sign  of  spiritual  life,  but  it  is  the 
authorised  channel  in  which  flow  all  good  and  perfect  gifts  to 
the  soul  of  man.  A  Christian  poet  has  well  expressed  its  im- 
portance in  that  beautiful  hymn — 

"  Prayer  was  appointed  to  convey 

The  blessings  God  design'd  to  give. 
Long  as  they  live  should  Christians  pray, 
For  only  while  they  pray  they  live. 

*'  Prayer  is  the  Christian's  vital  breath, 

The  Christian's  native  air, 
His  watchword  at  the  gates  of  death  ; 
He  enters  heaven  by  prayer." 

To  prove  that  these  statements  are  not  made  without 
scriptural  authority,  I  need  only  refer  you  to  St  Paul's  in- 
junction to  the  Philippians — "  In  everything  by  prayer  and 
supplication  with  thanksgiving,  let  your  requests  be  made 
known  unto  God."  And  also  to  our  Lord's  own  precepts  and 
promises  in  regard  to  prayer — "  Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given 
you ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find  ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened 
unto  you."  "  Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will 
I  do,  that  the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son."  And 
even  more  in  accordance  with  the  point  now  under  con- 
sideration— "  But  thou,  when  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy 
closet,  and  when  thou  hast  shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy 
Father  which  is  in  secret,  and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in 
secret,  shall  reward  thee  openly." 

I  need  hardly  explain  to  you,  that  whatever  place  the 
Christian  chooses  for  secret  prayer,  that  is  the  Christian's 
closet.  Under  the  ever-varying  circumstances  of  life,  seasons 
must  occur  when  it  is  quite  impossible  for  us  to  separate 
ourselves  completely  from  our  fellow-creatures,  even  for  a 
short  time.  We  may  be  so  poor  as  to  occupy  a  single  room 
in  common  with  many  others.  We  may  be  on  board  ship, 
in  a  railway  train,  or  in  a  crowded  tent ;  but  under  all  these, 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR.     301 

or  indeed  under  any  possible  circumstances  in  which  we  may 
be  placed,  it  is  quite  possible  for  us  to  be  alone  with  our 
heavenly  Father,  and  to  enjoy  communion  with  Him.  That 
young  sailor  well  understood  the  spirit  of  our  Saviour's  com- 
mand, who  said,  when  on  board  a  crowded  man-of-war,  that, 
on  the  ere  of  battle,  he  had  spent  an  hour  alone  with  his 
God  in  the  crown  of  his  cap.  Oh,  how  many  of  us  ought  to 
blush  when  we  compare  such  noble  conduct  with  our  own  ; 
when  we  remember  how  easily  we  suffer  little  trifles  to  in- 
terfere with  the  time  which  should  be  given  to  God  by  us 
every  day ! 

But  the  Christian's  time  in  his  closet  is  not  altogether  spent 
in  prayer.  He  there  reads  God's  sacred  Word,  and  meditates 
thereon  ;  he  strives  to  ascertain  what  God  would  have  him 
to  believe,  and  what  to  do,  and  what  to  leave  undone.  And 
his  search  is  never  in  vain.  As,  when  the  plate  is  uncovered 
in  the  camera,  the  rays  from  the  object  placed  before  it  pass 
through  the  lens,  and,  falling  upon  it,  effect  the  change  that  is 
required  ;  even  so  God,  through  the  glass  of  His  Holy  "Word, 
presents  Christ  to  his  soul,  makes  him  to  see  and  know 
something  of  the  length  and  breadth  and  depth  and  height 
of  His  infinite  love.  Not  all  at  once,  but  gradually,  He  unfolds 
to  him  the  exceeding  beauty  and  perfection  of  the  perfect 
man — Christ  Jesus ;  and  while  constantly  viewing  His  spot- 
less and  sinless  character,  the  believer  is  himself  gradually 
conformed  to  the  likeness  of  Christ ;  so  that  others  do  now 
take  knowledge  of  him  that  he  has  been  with  Jesus  ;  or  as  the 
words  of  our  text  beautifully  express  the  same  thought,  mak- 
ing use  of  this  very  image  :  "  But  we  all,  with  open  face  be- 
holding as  in  a  glass  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed  into 
the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord."  Yes,  as  in  the  case  of  the  photograph,  all  has  to 
be  done  in  the  dark  room  ;  so  in  the  instance  of  the  believer, 
it  is  when  apart  from  the  world,  and  alone  with  God,  that 
Christ  is  presented  to  his  view,  through  the  glass  of  His  Holy 
Word.  It  is  in  the  closet  that  the  image  is  developed ;  it  is 


302  THE  CAMEKA  ;   OR,  THE  BELIEVER 

in  the  closet  that  it  is  perfected.  True,  external  circumstances 
may  be,  and  often  are,  the  means  which  God  employs  both  to 
build  up  His  child  in  the  faith,  and  afterwards  to  purge  out 
all  the  old  leaven  whfch  still  clings  so  close  to  hirn,  and 
seems  so  likely  for  ever  to  mar  the  image  of  his  blessed  Lord  ; 
but  it  is  not  until  these  external  circumstances,  whether  sick- 
ness, or  bereavement,  or  trial,  or  persecution,  or  whatever  else 
they  may  be,  are  brought  into  the  workshop,  are  pondered 
over,  are  prayed  over,  are  made  to  sink  into  the  soul,  are  seen 
as  coming  from  God's  hands  for  some  special  purpose;  it 
is  not,  I  say,  until  these  external  circumstances  are  brought 
into  the  closet,  that  they  prove  of  any  use  or  value  towards 
perfecting  the  Christian  character  of  the  child  of  God. 

Then,  dear  friends,  let  me  from  this  take  occasion  to  urge 
you  seriously  to  let  all  your  external  circumstances  and  mat- 
ters of  everyday  life  be  made  by  you,  individually,  subjects 
of  private  meditation  and  prayer.  All  things  which  happen 
to  us  are  ordered  of  God  for  us,  and  He  does  not  order  things 
without  reason.  Nay,  He  has  great  and  good  reasons  for  even 
the  trifles  which  occur  in  daily  life.  Then,  if  we  attend  to 
those  trifles,  and  endeavour  to  see  God's  hand  in  them,  not 
only  will  the  attempt  be  successful ;  but  if  we  obey  the  indi- 
cations of  His  will  thus  afforded,  we  may  save  ourselves  many 
great  and  sore  troubles.  If  we  suffer  ourselves  to  be  guided 
by  His  eye,  He  will  lead  us  gently ;  we  shall  not  need  His 
chastening  hand  to  be  laid  heavily  upon  us  ;  nor,  to  use  the 
words  of  Scripture,  shall  we  require  to  be  restrained  by  bit 
and  bridle,  like  horse  and  mule. 

These  are  the  chief  points  of  the  resemblance.  I  might  also 
trace  many  minor  ones. 

For  instance,  the  slightest  speck  of  dust  getting  on  the 
plate  considerably  mars,  and  may  even  destroy  the  whole  pic- 
ture ;  and  thousands  of  pictures  are  daily  destroyed  in  this 
way. 

Oh,  how  many  fair  Christian  characters  has  one  sin  blighted ! 
Let  us  beware  lest  it  be  so  with  us,— the  stain  must  be  re- 


CHANGED  INTO  THE  IMAGE  OF  HIS  SAVIOUR.     303 

moved,  the  darling  sin  must  be  renounced  and  abandoned,  or 
we  perish  for  ever. 

Again,  a  weak  picture  is  useless,  or  almost  so,  for  taking 
impressions  from,  or  making  similar  pictures.  From  a  strong 
"  negative,"  as  it  is  technically  termed,  any  number  may  be 
taken.  The  weak  picture  is  only  valuable  to  be  itself  set  in 
a  frame. 

So  with  Christians,  it  is  the  strong,  earnest,  confirmed 
Christians  that  are  chiefly  made  use  of  as  instruments  in 
God's  hand  for  the  conversion  of  other  souls.  But  the  simple, 
weak  brother,  though  not  made  use  of  so  openly,  still  glorifies 
God  by  his  holy  life  and  conversation,  and  will  doubtless  shine 
as  a  jewel  in  our  glorious  Saviour's  crown. 

Lastly,  Even  with  the  rapid  strides  which  this  wonderful 
art  has  made,  how  inferior  is  the  picture  to  the  original  from 
which  it  was  taken  !  How  poor,  how  feeble,  how  harsh,  how 
diminutive  !  How  exactly  the  type  of  the  Christian,  even 
the  most  advanced  and  holy  Christian,  as  compared  with  His 
glorious  pattern,  his  Divine  Original !  But  as,  in  the  one  case, 
we  look  forward  to  the  time  when  the  power  of  transferring 
through  the  camera,  not  only  the  outlines  of  the  object,  but 
the  colours  also,  shall  arrive  :  so  on  the  other,  we  Christians 
are  justified  in  looking  forward  to  the  coming  time,  when  we 
shall  be  with,  and  near,  and  like  our  God  ;  when  we  shall  see 
Him  face  to  face,  and  know  even  as  also  we  are  known.  May 
this  be  the  happy  lot,  the  blessed  portion  of  each  soul  now 
present,  for  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour's  sake !  Amen. 


mO>  Broadway,  March, 

ROBERT  CARTER  &  BRO'S 

mrar 


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New  Editions.      By  the  same  Author. 

The  Claremont  Tales,      .         .50  The  Adopted  Son,  .  50 

The  Young  Pilgrim,         .          .   50  Giant  Killer  and  Sequel,  50 

Flora  and  other  Tales,      .          .50  Needle  and  Rat,    .  -5° 

Eddy  Ellerslie  and  The  Mine,  .   50  Precepts  and  Practice,  .  50 

The  Christian's  Mirror,    .          .50  Idols  in  the  Heart,  .  50 

Pride  and  his  Prisoners,    .          .    50  Wings  and  Stings,  .  25 

Walter  Binning,       .          .          .   30  True  Heroism,      .  .  25 

The  Story  of  a  Needle,  .          .   25  The  Two  Paths,  .  .  25 

Old  Friends,  .          .         .          .30  The  Giant  Killer,  .  30 

The  Roby  Family,  .         .         .30  Rambles  of  a  Rat,  .  30 

The  Mine. 40 

"We  would  rather  be  A.  L.  O.  E.  than  Thackeray  or  Dickens. . . .  "Who  shall 
undertake  even  to  guess  how  many  young  minds  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic 
have  received  permanent  impulse*iu  the  paths  of  virtue  and  piety  through  the 
influence  of  the  charming  books  which  have  appeared  under  this  authorship." — 
Christian  Times. 

QLD    MARGIE'S    FLOWER    STALL, 

and  other  Stories.      i8mo,  .          .          .          .         -3° 

"We  welcome  this  accomplished  pen  to  a  certain  success." — Time*. 


Carters'   Catalogue. 


THE    POSTMAN'S  BAG,  and  other 

Stories.  By  the  Rev.  J.  F.  DE  LIEFDE,  with  16  Illustrations,  75 

"The  stories  are  charming  for  their  originality,  and  will  delight  the  young. 
The  paper  and  printing  of  the  choicest  kind,  and  the  numerous  illustrations,  by 
the  best  artists,  are  novel,  and  beautifully  characteristic  and  artistic.  Young 
readers  will  be  sure  to  inquire  for  this  book." — Presbyterian. 

CORNING.      i8mo,  6  Engravings.          .    3o 

"Little  childish  sayings  and  deeds  are  woven  into  a  narrative  as  simple  and 
lively  as  nursery  prattle,  but  as  chaste  and  elegant  as  a  poem." — Intelligencer. 

DAVIE.     By  NORMAN  MACLEOD, 

D.  D.      i8mo, 25 

"This  is  a  charming  little  book,  giving  a  beautiful  illustration  of  its  Scrip- 
tural motto,  'a  little  child  shall  lead  them.' ....  It  is  told  in  a  style  of  great 
beauty,  and  with  a  spice  of  Scotch  humor." — Christian  Witness. 

THE    GOLD    THREAD,  a   Story.     By 

NORMAN  MACLEOD,  D.  D.   With  6  fine  Engravings.  i8mo,    30 
"  This  is  a  beautiful  allegory.    The  Gold  Thread  is  duty  to  God,  and  the 
story  illustrates  how,  by  holding  fast  to  this,  the  young  may  come  safely  at  last 
to  the  city  of  the  Great  King." — Christian  Times. 

ROUGHING   IT   WITH   ALECK 

BAILLIE,  A  Story  for  Boys.  By  W.  S.  STEWART.   i8mo.     50 

"  This  is  a  well  told  story  of  an  orphan  boy.  who  was  sent  to  '  rough  it '  at  a 
school  in  Scotland.  But  his  experiences  were  decidedly  agreeable,  and  by 
making  judicious  acquaintances  and  following  the  straight  and  narrow  path  of 
duty,  he  found  much  pleasure  where  he  had  little  anticipated  it." — Chronicle. 

KITTY'S  VICTORY,  and    other   Tales. 

By  the  Author  of  "  Cosmo's  Visit  to  his  Grandparents." 
i8mo.      12  cuts,        .......     50 

"A  scries  of  stories  for  young  folks,  very  prettily  written,  and  beautifully  got 
up.  A  really  good  book  for  children  is  a  treasure  in  any  household." — Congre- 
gational Herald. 

THE  BLACK  SHIP,  and  other  Allegor- 

ies.      i8mo,  3  Engravings,       •  .          .          .          .          -5° 

"This  is  a  beautiful  collection  of  short  allegories,  ingenious  in  conception, 
instructive  in  their  lessons,  and  generally  practical  in  their  application." — 
Evangelist. 

THE  CITIES  OF  REFUGE,  a  Book  for 

the  Young.    By  the  Rev.  DR.  MACDUFF.     7  cuts,  .     30 


Carters'   Catalogue. 

ENGLAND'S     YEOMEN.      By    the 

Author  of  "  Ministering  Children."     I2mo,         .          .    i.oo 

"Rarely,  if  ever,  have  wo  seen  a  more  effective  or  captivating  representation 
of  the  elevating,  refining,  and  consoling  influences  of  domestic  piety." — Ameri- 
cttn  Prexbyterian. 

EVENINGS  WITH   BUNYAN;  OR, 

THE  DREAM  INTERPRETED.     By  JAMES  LARGE,   i.oo 

KING'S  HIGHWAY;  or  Illustra- 

tions  of  the  Commandments.     By  R.  NEWTON,  D.  D. 
i8mo,     .........     50 

E    GIANTS,   AND    HOW    TO 

FIGHT  THEM.     By  the  same  author.      i8mo,  .     40 

BEST    THINGS.      By  the  same  author. 

i8mo,      .........      50 

BLIND  LILIAS;  OR,  FELLOWSHIP 

WITH  GOD.     i8mo, 50 

THE    BROTHER'S    WATCHWORD. 

i8mo, 50 

DAYS    OF    OLD.     By  the  Author    of 

"  Ruth  and  her  Friends,"  .....      50 

RUTH    AND  HER   FRIENDS.    A 

Tale  for  Girls, 50 

NEAR  AND    THE    HEAVEN- 
LY HORIZONS.     By  Madame  de  GASPARIN.    izmo,    i.oo 

"  These  pages  are  like  gossamer  threads  beaded  with  radiant  daw-drops.  Tho 
book  ought  to  become  extremely  popular." — The  Witness.  (Edinburgh.) 

"This  is  a  book  to  be  enjoyed  and  revelled  in  rather  than  criticised.  The 
reader  who  sits  down  to  it  will  have  a  rare  literary  treat." — The  Scottish 
Guardian. 

"  Be  persuaded,  reader,  to  get  this  beautiful  volume.  It  is  just  the  book  for 
Sabbath  afternoons  in  a  Christian  family." — Eclectic  Review. 

LIFE  WORK  ;  OR,  THE  LINK  AND 

THE  RIVET.     By  the  author  of  the  "  Missing  Link,"     75 

"It  shows,  not  by  dry  didactic  discussion,  but  by  narratives  of  facts,  narra- 
tives full  of  life  and  interest,  how  much  woman  with  the  Bible  in  her  hand  can 
do  for  woman." — Lutheran. 


Carters'   Catalogue.  V 

SUNSETS  ON  THE  HEBREW  MOUN- 
TAINS.    By  the  Rev.  J.  R.  MACDUFF,  D.  D.,  author  of 
"  Morning  and  Night  Watches,"  etc.,          .          .          -75 

"  Few  of  those  who  have  contributed  to  the  religious  literature  of  our  day 
have  been  more  popular  than  this  Scottish  writer.  In  this  volume  he  portrays 
the  glory  which  surrounds  the  hoary  heads  of  God's  aged  servants,  glowing 
like  the  sunsets  on  the  mountains  of  Israel." 


BY    THE    SAME    AUTHOR. 


Footsteps  of  St.  Paul, 
Family  Prayers.      i6mo,  . 
Woodcutter  of  Lebanon,  . 
The  Great  Journey, 
Child's  Book  of  Divinity, . 
Evening  Incense.       i6mo, 
Memories  of  Bethany, 
Memories  of  Gennesaret, . 
The  Bow  in  the  Cloud,    . 
The  Story  of  Bethlehem,  . 
Hart  and  Water-Brooks,  . 
Cities  of  Refuge, 
Grapes  of  Eshcol,    . 


i.oo 
75 
5° 
3° 
25 
40 
60 

i.oo 

4° 
60 
60 

3° 
60 


Morning  and  Night  Watches, 

Fine  ed.,  open  type.  i6mo,  60 
Morning  and  Night  Watches. 

3  2mo,  gilt,  40  cents ;  red  ed,  30 
The  Words  of  Jesus.  i6mo,  40 
The  Mind  of  Jesus.  i6mo,  40 
The  Words  and  Mind  of  Jesus. 

In  i  vol.,  fine  ed.  l6mo,  60 
The  Faithful  Promiser  and 

Altar  Stones.  i8mo,  .  25 
The  Words  and  Mind  of  Jesus 

and  Faithful  Promiser.       i 

vol.,  32mo,  pocket  edition. 

Gilt,  40  cents;  red  edge,  .   30 

LORD  BACON'S  BIBLE  THOUGHTS. 

Edited  by  the  Rev.  JOHN  G.  HALL.      I2mo,         .         .   i.oo 

"The  marvellous  greatness  of  Lord  Bacon^s  mind  is  well  known,  and  so 
should  be  his  great  and  constant  interest  fn  the  Bible.  The  present  compila- 
tion has  been  well  made,  and  the  book  is  a  valuable  one  for  ministers,  and  for 
intelligent  Christians  generally.  It  contains  a  large  amount  of  massive 
thought." —  The  Puritan  Recorder.  (Boston.) 

LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  JOHN 

ANGELL  JAMES,  including  an  unfinished  Autobiog- 
raphy.     Edited  by  Rev.  R.  W.  DALE.      8vo,     .          .   2.00 

"This  work  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  its  kind  that  wo  have  ever  met 
with.  No  minister  can  read  it  without  deriving  valuable  lessons  and  noble 
impulses.  Next  to  communing  with  such  a  man  as  Mr.  James,  the  study  of  his 
I'i'iu'ntphy  will  tend  to  inspire  us  with  his  untiring  activity,  his  fervent  devo- 
tion, his  comprehensive  views,  and  his  broad  yet  discriminating  charity." — 
C't-iatian  Advocate  and  Journal. 


8  Carters'   Catalogue. 

A    CRITICAL    COMMENTARY   ON 

THE    GREEK    TEXT    OF    THE  EPISTLE  TO 
THE  EPHESIANS.     By  JOHN  EADIE,  LL.D.      8vo,   3.00 

"  For  thoroughness  of  exegesis,  fullness  of  exposition,  and  for  clearness  of 
statement,  Dr.  Eadies'  Commentaries  are  unsurpassed.  They  contain  every- 
where the  marks  of  critical  studiousness  and  patient  investigation,  without  that 
excess  of  refinement  which  so  often  confounds  the  reader  and  destroys  the  ob- 
vious meaning  of  the  text." —  Watchman  and  Reflector. 

PATHWAY  OF  PROMISE;  OR, 

WORDS  OF  COMFORT  TO  THE  CHRISTIAN 
PILGRIM.      i8mo,  Magenta  edge,    .          .          .          -50 

"  Both  In  matter  and  execution,  this  is  a  charming  book." — Jiff.  Pbn. 

"A  beautiful  little  volume." — Christian  Witness. 

ANNALS   OF    THE    AMERICAN 

METHODIST  PULPIT.     By  W.  B.  SPRAGUE,  D.  D.   3.00 

"The  following  card  was  drawn  up  by  the  Bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  their  late  meeting  at  Springfield,  and  sent  to  Dr.  Sprague  without 
any  solicitation.  It  is  a  flattering  testimonial  to  the  impartiality,  diligence,  and 
taste  of  the  distinguished  author.  It  Is  a  mark  of  progress  when  a  "minister 
of  one  denomination  is  recognized  as  an  accepted  historian  of  another: 

"We,  the  subscribers,  have  examined  with  great  pleasure  Dr.  Spragur's  An- 
nals of  the  American  Methodist  Pulpit,  and  take  this  opportunity  to  express 
our  sincere  gratitude  to  him  for  the  able  and  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he 
has  completed  the  work,  and  we  very  heartily  recommend  the  volume  as  a  valu- 
able contribution  to  the  memory  and  Christian  worth  of  many  of  our  departed 
ministers. 

T.  A.  MORRIS,  E.  S.  JANES,  L.  SCOTT, 

O.  0.  BAKER,  M.  SIMPSON,  E.  K.  AMES. 

Springfield,  Ohio,  Dec.  14, 1S61." 

THE   BIBLE  AND   THE  CLASSICS. 

By  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  MEADE.     8vo,       .         .         .2.50 

"  The  object  of  this  volume  is  to  make  the  heathen  mythologies  and  the  an- 
cient classics  witnesses  for  the  Bible. . . .  The  materials  have  been  drawn  from 
a  wide  range  of  authorities,  some  of  them  difficult  of  access  even  to  educated 
readers." — Evangelist. 

OUTLINES  OF  THEOLOGY.    By 

the  Rev.  A.  A.  HODGE.     8vo,  ,         .         .         .2.00 

"After  carefully  examining  the  work,  we  are  free  to  give  it  a  very  high  meed 
of  cDuimi-uclation  both  as  to  plan  and  execution. .  .  .  The  stylo  of  the  Miitlior  is 
clear,  compact,  and  nervous,  condensing  the  greatest  amount  of  matter  into  the 
smallest  amount  of  words;  and  his  (the  author's)  knowledge  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject is  so  accurate  that  he  is  able  to  give  this  condensation  in  the  best  form."— 
Central  Presbyterian. 


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